Karachi witnessed partial relief for commuters on Friday as authorities reopened select routes for light traffic, though several major roads remained sealed due to ongoing security restrictions. The closures followed violent protests earlier this week, which left 11 people dead and many others injured near the US Consulate.
According to traffic police, MT Khan Road and both carriageways of Mai Kolachi Road stayed closed, forcing diversions across the city. Vehicles from PIDC were redirected towards Khajoor Chowk, while those coming from Mai Kolachi were turned back through a U-turn. Traffic from Jinnah Bridge was sent towards II Chundrigar Road, where congestion worsened due to the closures.
Earlier in the day, some routes had briefly reopened, including stretches from Jinnah Bridge to PIDC, parts of Mai Kolachi Road, and the road from PIDC to Sultanabad. However, fresh restrictions were imposed later, frustrating commuters once again. Residents within the affected zones were allowed passage only after showing identity documents.
The closures have now entered their fifth consecutive day, following unrest sparked by the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Demonstrators in Karachi carried black flags, shouted anti-US and anti-Israel slogans, and even breached the outer wall of the US Consulate compound, damaging property. Gunfire during the incident claimed multiple lives, with reports suggesting US Marines may have opened fire, though details remain unclear.
Authorities placed containers on PIDC Bridge and blocked access to Jinnah Bridge and Mai Kolachi Road as part of heightened security measures. The Boat Basin to Mai Kolachi stretch was also sealed. These restrictions have created severe traffic pressure across central Karachi, leaving commuters struggling with long delays.
The situation highlights the city’s fragile security environment, where sudden closures disrupt daily life. For now, Karachi residents continue to navigate diversions, hoping for a swift resolution to the crisis.
