Transporters have suspended services between Quetta and major destinations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, and Islamabad for the past four days, causing significant distress to passengers. They initiated the suspension after a strike protesting against lawlessness, extortion, and a recent violent incident in which someone set a passenger bus on fire.
In Quetta, transporters have parked dozens of buses along Airport Road to register their protest. Waheed Kakar, an official of the Transport Union, stated that over 20,000 passengers travel daily between Balochistan and other provinces, relying on hundreds of buses. However, increasing incidents of robbery and violence on the national highway between Zhob and Dera Ismail Khan have left both passengers and transport staff feeling unsafe.
“More than 50 armed individuals frequently block the road for hours, looting buses and vehicles at their convenience. Despite repeated incidents, the government has failed to take effective action,” Kakar lamented.
He also criticized the security checkpoints along the route, alleging that instead of ensuring protection, authorities harass passengers and staff under the pretense of checking for smuggling. According to Kakar, these checkpoints cause significant delays, stretching a 12-hour journey to Islamabad into a grueling 20-hour ordeal. He proposed establishing a unified checkpoint for Customs, FC, and other security agencies to conduct a single comprehensive search, minimizing inconvenience to passengers.
An official responsible for the security check posts on the condition of anonymity said that they formed check posts to protect passengers and vehicles on this route. They aim to provide security, and customs officials thoroughly checked these vehicles because bus owners involved themselves in the transportation of illicit items.
Furthermore, Kakar highlighted the poor road conditions in Balochistan, citing the lack of motorways and single-lane highways. Despite these challenges, the motorway police allegedly impose heavy fines on buses in the name of traffic regulations, further burdening transporters.
An enraged mob set on fire a bus after a motorcycle collided with it, resulting in the death of a motorcyclist. “The motorcyclist was at fault, yet the bus was burned. Kakar warned that if their demands were not met, transporters would escalate their protest by blocking all national highways in Balochistan.
Government’s Response
Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind confirmed that negotiations with transporters were underway to restore the Quetta-Lahore-Islamabad bus service. He acknowledged that transporters had concerns regarding security on the Balochistan-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa border, which both provincial governments had agreed to address through mutual consultation.
Rind also stated that he informed transporters that they would not tolerate smuggling via public transport. He added that some of the demands raised by transporters involved federal institutions, and relevant authorities would hold discussions to resolve these matters.
“We are making serious efforts to address the transporters’ concerns and restore normal operations as soon as possible,” Rind assured.
Meanwhile, passengers continue to bear the brunt of the ongoing strike, with many stranded and unable to travel between provinces. The crisis underscores the urgent need for improved security measures and infrastructural reforms to ensure safer and more efficient transportation in Balochistan.
