Raiwind Ijtima Traffic Plan Announced for November Phases
The Raiwind Ijtima traffic plan is now in place for the annual religious gathering near Lahore, with designated entry routes, parking areas and traffic diversions for participants who travel from different cities. Lahore Traffic Police announced the plan on November 4, 2026, one day before the first phase begins.
The gathering will run in two phases. The first phase runs from November 5 to 8, while the second phase runs from November 12 to 15. The concluding prayers for both phases fall on Sundays, November 8 and 15. Those final days usually draw the largest crowds, so police expect the heaviest traffic then.
Seven entry routes and 10 diversion points
Traffic police have designated seven entry routes for participants. The named routes include Lahore-Raiwind Road, Sunder Road and Manga Road. Police will also set up diversion points at 10 locations to keep traffic moving and to stop gridlock on the main approaches.
Participants from Gujranwala who travel via GT Road will use the Kala Shah Kaku Interchange on the motorway to reach Raiwind. Those from Faisalabad and Sheikhupura will use the Faizpur Interchange. Participants from Okara will travel through the NFC Interchange on Ring Road and Raiwind Road. Those three routes cover the main approaches from the north, west and south, and they give drivers a clear path before they reach the gathering area.
Drivers should follow the route set for their home city, even if a shorter road looks tempting. A shortcut that cuts across another stream can block an entry point for thousands of others. Police will staff the diversion points to guide drivers, but the plan works best when drivers stick to the published routes from the start.
Parking for thousands of vehicles
Parking will play a large part in the plan. The designated parking areas can hold 2,800 large vehicles, 5,400 cars and 10,000 motorcycles. Those numbers show the scale of the gathering, since the total covers more than 18,000 vehicles across the three groups.
Large vehicles need the most space and the most care. Buses and trucks take longer to park and longer to leave, so police will direct them to areas set aside for large vehicles. Cars and motorcycles will use separate areas, which should cut the mix of slow and fast traffic at the parking gates.
Participants should park only in the designated areas. Roadside parking near the venue narrows the road for everyone else, and it slows emergency vehicles. A short walk from a proper parking area is far better than a blocked road that traps thousands of vehicles behind one badly parked bus.
1,103 officers on duty
Lahore Traffic Police will deploy 1,103 officers and personnel to manage traffic during the gathering. The deployment includes seven deputy superintendents of police, 203 inspectors and senior traffic wardens, and 866 traffic wardens and traffic assistants. Police will also deploy 15 lifters and nine breakdown vehicles.
The lifters will remove vehicles that break down or block a route. The breakdown vehicles will help drivers whose vehicles stop on the road. Together, those two groups should keep a small fault from turning into a long jam.
The size of the deployment reflects the size of the event. A gathering that draws people from many cities needs staff at every entry point, diversion point and parking area. It also needs staff on the main roads leading to Raiwind, since traffic builds up well before the venue.
Police will share traffic updates through Rasta FM, the Rasta mobile app and social media platforms during the event. Participants should check those channels before they set out, and again during the journey, since police may change a diversion if traffic builds up on one route.
Raiwind Ijtima traffic plan: practical advice for participants
Participants can take a few simple steps to ease their own journey. First, they should leave early, since the roads near Raiwind fill up hours before the main sessions. Second, they should carry water and basic supplies for the journey, since a long drive in slow traffic can be tiring. Third, they should keep their vehicle documents and identity papers ready, since police may check them at entry points.
The plan also fits a wider pattern in Lahore, where large events need early traffic plans. Feature Pakistan reported on electric buses for students in Attock in Attock Gets 15 Electric Buses on Three Free Student Routes, and on a road closure in Islamabad in Rawal Dam Chowk to Serena Road Closed in Islamabad. Lahore’s own event planning, including limits for Basant, featured in Lahore Basant 2027 Kites Limited to Set Areas. In each case, the early plan matters more than any fix after traffic has already jammed.
ProPakistani reported the traffic plan on November 4, 2026.
Frequently asked questions
When does the Raiwind Ijtima 2026 take place?
It takes place in two phases: November 5 to 8, and November 12 to 15, with concluding prayers on November 8 and 15.
How many entry routes has traffic police designated?
Police have designated seven entry routes, including Lahore-Raiwind Road, Sunder Road and Manga Road.
Which route should participants from Gujranwala use?
Participants from Gujranwala via GT Road should use the Kala Shah Kaku Interchange on the motorway to reach Raiwind.
Which route should participants from Faisalabad and Sheikhupura use?
They should use the Faizpur Interchange, while participants from Okara should travel through the NFC Interchange on Ring Road and Raiwind Road.
How much parking is available?
Parking covers 2,800 large vehicles, 5,400 cars and 10,000 motorcycles at designated locations.
How many officers will manage traffic?
Lahore Traffic Police will deploy 1,103 officers and personnel, plus 15 lifters and nine breakdown vehicles, and will share updates through Rasta FM, the Rasta app and social media.
