Balochistan Bans Night-Time Travel on Highways Amid Rising Security Threats
Key Points:
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The Balochistan government has imposed a night-time travel ban for public transport on major highways in multiple districts due to escalating security threats.
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Affected districts include Gwadar, Kachhi, Zhob, Noshki, and Musakhel, with Quetta also enforcing restrictions on outgoing public transport.
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The Karachi-Quetta Highway (N-25), also known as the RCD Highway, will be closed to public transport at night, effectively disconnecting Balochistan from Sindh during these hours.
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Additional highways impacted include Makran Coastal Highway (N-10), Quetta-Sukkur Highway (N-65), Quetta-Dera Ismail Khan (N-50), Quetta-Taftan (N-40), and Multan-Loralai (N-70).
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Transport authorities have been instructed to install and maintain CCTV cameras and tracking systems in all buses and strictly follow designated departure timings to ensure daytime travel.
Security Concerns & Recent Attacks:
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Militant attacks on highways have increased, with the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) emerging as a key actor in 2024.
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Recent incidents include:
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Six Punjab-based passengers were killed on the Coastal Highway in Gwadar after being taken off a bus.
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The Jaffar Express train hijacking resulted in 26 hostages losing their lives, including 18 security personnel.
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Seven passengers were executed in Barkhan in February 2024.
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Nine people were shot dead near Noshki after being offloaded from a bus in April 2024.
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In August 2023, 23 travelers were executed after being taken off public transport in Musakhel.
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The travel restrictions reflect the gravity of the security crisis in Balochistan, as authorities struggle to curb militant violence targeting civilians. While these measures aim to protect passengers, they also highlight the state’s challenges in securing major transportation routes. With over 76 highway closures since January 2024, the province remains a high-risk zone for travelers.
