National Highway blocked for seven hours as Steel Mills employees stage protest

Steel Mills employees staged a protest on the National Highway for over seven hours on Saturday, paralysing traffic and leaving commuters stranded for hours, according to .

The demonstration began around 5pm, with workers rallying against dismissals and the suspension of electricity and gas supply to their residential quarters.

Both tracks of the highway were blocked, causing severe traffic congestion in surrounding areas. Traffic police diverted vehicles from Port Qasim Chowrangi and FB Area Cut to alternative routes.

However, long queues of vehicles remained on nearby roads, creating hardships for commuters.

According to a traffic police spokesperson, the protest ended at around 12:30am after negotiations between the workers and authorities.

Traffic flow on the highway was later restored.

The employees have been demanding the reinstatement of their jobs and restoration of utility services, which were disconnected following the layoffs.

Last year in November, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah sought assistance from the Russian embassy in reviving Pakistan Steel Mills, proposing the installation of a new plant to strengthen the economy and boost employment.

The request was made during a meeting with Russian Ambassador Albert P. Khorev, who was accompanied by Russian Consul General Andrey Fedorov and other officials.

Chief Minister Shah emphasised the importance of Pakistan’s relationship with Russia, highlighting that a functional steel mill could stabilise the economy and resolve employment issues for mill workers.