The Deputy Commissioner of Rawalpindi has officially declared a local holiday for the district. The closure takes effect today, April 9, and continues through tomorrow, April 10, 2026.
Reports indicate a major geopolitical reason behind this sudden closure. Neighboring Islamabad is currently hosting US-Iran peace talks. Consequently, authorities declared a local holiday in the territorial jurisdiction of the Rawalpindi District to accommodate the resulting security and logistical shifts.
However, the district will not experience a total shutdown. The official notification explicitly outlines exemptions for critical infrastructure. All emergency dealing departments, institutions, and authorities will remain completely operational across Rawalpindi during these two days.
Dr. Hassan Waqar Cheema, Deputy Commissioner of Rawalpindi, issued the official notification (No. 1146/ GHC) yesterday, April 8, 2026. According to the document, Cheema exercised powers conferred by the Services & General Administration Department of the Government of Punjab. The Deputy Commissioner’s office also distributed copies of the notification to twelve key regional offices, including the Chief Secretary of Punjab and the City Police Officer of Rawalpindi.
