'Containerabad': Islamabad lockdown drains truckers and businesses ahead of fresh opposition march

Businesses and truck drivers in Islamabad say they are counting mounting financial losses as barricades set up around the Pakistani capital ahead of another opposition march show no sign of coming down.

The city, which residents have taken to calling "Containerabad" in reference to the shipping containers used to block roads, has repeatedly been sealed off during periods of political tension between the government and opposition groups.

Truckers say the lockdowns disrupt their routes and delay deliveries, while shop owners and small businesses report a drop in customer traffic whenever the barricades go up.

The latest round of preparations comes as Islamabad braces for another opposition-led march, a recurring source of tension that has repeatedly prompted authorities to restrict movement in and around the capital.

With each new round of barricades, affected drivers and business owners say the economic toll continues to accumulate, even as the political standoff between the government and opposition shows no clear sign of resolution.