Metro bus services connecting Islamabad and Rawalpindi were suspended on Monday after employees blocked the dedicated corridor to protest sudden mass terminations.
Thousands of daily commuters were left stranded across the twin cities, unable to access 24 stations linking key areas including Pak Secretariat, Faizabad, Peshawar Morr, and Saddar.
Both male and female staff joined the demonstration, blocking the metro track and raising slogans, drawing widespread attention to serious concerns over workers’ rights and job security.
Dismissed employees stated their contracts were legally valid until 2027, claiming they received no notice before termination and were given no formal communication from management whatsoever.
Affected workers also confirmed that salaries for the last 2 months remain entirely unpaid, placing serious financial strain on families already dealing with sudden and unexpected job loss.
“Our contracts were valid until 2027. We were dismissed without notice, and 2 months of our salaries remain completely unpaid.”
The layoffs followed the award of the metro bus contract to a new operating company, which began replacing existing staff as part of a broader transition across the network.
Protesters appealed to CM Punjab Maryam Nawaz, demanding immediate intervention to reinstate dismissed employees and release the 2 months of outstanding unpaid wages owed to them.
The Islamabad-Rawalpindi Metro Bus spans 24 kilometres across a dedicated corridor, serving as a key public transport link for thousands of daily passengers across twin cities.
