Ban Imposed on Public Transport, Including Passenger Buses, on Major Highways of Baluchistan During Night Hours
Public transport will be prohibited from operating on the Karachi-Quetta Highway (N25) at night, says Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat in a media briefing.
Balochistan: Agreement to Expand Security Forces’ Operations Against Terrorists
Quetta ( Web News )
It has been agreed to further expand security forces’ operations against terrorists in Balochistan.
A high-level meeting was chaired by Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, attended by the Chief Secretary of Balochistan, Additional Chief Secretary for Home Affairs, Inspector General of Police, and other senior officials. The officials provided a detailed briefing on the overall situation in the province.
The meeting discussed the Eid security plan, the condition of national highways, and the overall law and order situation. The successful security forces’ operation in Kalat was also appreciated during the discussion.
During the meeting, it was agreed to further expand security forces’ operations against terrorists in Baluchistan. Important decisions were made to enhance the capacity of civil armed forces.
On this occasion, Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti directed officials to make peace restoration efforts more effective and instructed all security institutions to enhance coordination to ensure the success of these measures.
The Baluchistan government has imposed a ban on the movement of public transport, including passenger buses, during nighttime due to the deteriorating security situation in the province. This decision follows a rise in terrorist attacks in Balochistan, where several incidents have targeted passengers this year.
Deputy commissioners of Gwadar, Kachhi, Zhob, Nushki, and Musakhel have issued notifications banning travel during nighttime. The Quetta administration has also prohibited public transport from operating at night.
Speaking to the media, Quetta Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat stated that he chaired a meeting where it was decided that public transport would be restricted from operating on the Karachi-Quetta Highway (N25) at night, effectively cutting off Baluchistan’s connection with Sindh during those hours. The meeting emphasized strict adherence to bus and coach departure schedules to avoid travel delays.
The commissioner added that all buses and coaches would be equipped with trackers and CCTV cameras, and transporters were instructed to comply with government directives.
In a notification issued on March 28, Gwadar Deputy Commissioner Hamood-ur-Rehman announced that all public transport on the Makran Coastal Highway (N10) would be prohibited from operating at night until further notice. The notification further stated that, for passenger safety, the administration and private transport associations had decided to restrict departure timings from Karachi, Gwadar, and Quetta to ensure travelers reach their destinations before nightfall.
All transport from Karachi or Quetta to Gwadar will operate between 5 AM and 10 AM, while transport from the coastal city to both cities will run between 6 AM and 1 PM.
Similarly, in a notification issued by Kachhi Deputy Commissioner Jahanzeb Lango, all public and private transport has been restricted from traveling on the Quetta-Sukkur Highway (N65) between 5 PM and 5 AM starting from March 28 until further orders. This move will cut off Balochistan’s nighttime road connectivity with Sindh.
The notification further stated that vehicles traveling from Sibi to Quetta during the restricted hours would be halted at Nari River Bank in Sibi, while those coming from Quetta would be stopped at Kolpur.
In a separate order, Zhob Deputy Commissioner Mehboob Ahmed banned public buses and coaches from using the N50 National Highway, which connects Quetta to Dera Ismail Khan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, between 6 PM and 6 AM starting March 27 until further notice.
Similarly, Nushki Deputy Commissioner Amjad Soomro and Musakhel Deputy Commissioner Jumma Dad Mandokhail have also issued notifications prohibiting public transport from operating on the Quetta-Taftan Highway (N40) and the Multan-Loralai Highway (N70) between 6 PM and 6 AM.