Balochistan Bans Night Travel on Major Highways: International Edition
The Balochistan administration has prohibited late-night travel—primarily for public transportation—on key highways across multiple districts due to worsening security conditions. This decision was communicated through advisories released by district deputy commissioners within the province.
This decision follows an increase in terrorist activities throughout Balochistan, with several events occurring this year involving gunmen targeting travelers. Notifications prohibiting nighttime travel have been issued by the deputy commissioners of Gwadar, Kachhi, Zhob, Noshki, and Musakhel districts. Additionally, the authorities in Quetta mandated that all public transportation leaving the city must cease operations during the night hours.
The Quetta Commissioner, Hamza Shafqaat, informed the press that during a meeting he led, it was determined that public transportation would be banned from using the Karachi-Quetta highway (N-25), often referred to as the RCD Highway, after dark. This decision effectively severs connections between Balochistan and Sindh provinces.
It was emphasized as well that buses and coaches should leave punctually to prevent any hold-ups during the trip.
“Trackers and CCTV cameras on all buses and coaches must remain operational, and transport companies have been instructed to comply with the government’s instructions,” Shafqaat stated.
On March 28, Gwadar District Commissioner Hamoodur Rehman announced in an official notice that all public transportation along the Makran Coastal Highway (N-10) would be prohibited during nighttime hours until further notice.
The statement added that considering the safety of the passengers, both the administration and the private transportation association agreed to impose restrictions on departure times from Karachi, Gwadar, and Quetta. This was done to guarantee that travelers reach their destinations prior to nighttime.
Every transportation moving from Karachi or Quetta towards Gwadar would leave between 5 am and 10 am, whereas those departing from the port city of Gwadar to either of these two cities would set off between 6 am and 1 pm.
As stated in a notice issued by Kachhi DC Jahanzaib Langove, both public and private transportation were instructed not to use the Quetta-Sukkur highway (N-65) during nighttime hours—from 5 pm until 5 am—starting March 28th onwards unless otherwise notified. This effectively isolates Balochistan from Sindh after dark.
Cars traveling from Sibi to Quetta during the specified hours will be detained at the Nari Riverbank in Sibi, whereas vehicles arriving from the provincial capital will be held at Kolpur, the notice further stated.
A distinct directive issued by Zhob Deputy Commissioner Mehboob Ahmad prohibited public buses and coaches from traveling via Zhob along the N-50 National Highway – which connects Quetta to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Dera Ismail Khan – during nighttime hours.
The drivers were instructed not to operate between 6 pm and 6 am starting March 27 until additional instructions are provided.
DC Noshki of Amjad Soomro and DC Musakhel of Juma Dad Mandokhail similarly released directives prohibiting public transportation from using the Quetta-Taftan (N-40) and Multan-Loralai (N-70) highways during the hours of 6 pm to 6 am.
As stated by Shahid Rind, the spokesperson for the Balochistan government, national highways have been shut down 76 times for different reasons starting from January 1st.
Recently, militants in Balochistan have stepped up their assaults, with the proscribed group Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) becoming a prominent actor behind terrorist activities in Pakistan during 2024.
Recently, armed individuals obstructed the Coastal Highway in Gwadar and murdered six people, all of whom were from Punjab, after removing them from a bus heading towards Karachi.
Earlier this month, a Jaffar Express train was seized by attackers, resulting in 26 fatalities among the captives, of whom 18 were security officers. Additionally, five further security personnel died during the rescue mission.
A few weeks ago, insurgents obstructed several key locations along the Quetta-Sukkar N-65 highway in Bolan and took hold of weaponry belonging to the protection detail of Balochistan’s Parliamentary Secretary Mir Liaquat Ali Lehri.
Last month, seven individuals traveling to Punjab were removed from a bus and killed in Balochistan’s Barkhan district.
Last August, when BLA carried out multiple assaults throughout the region, 23 passengers were removed from vehicles and killed in the Musakhail district.
In April 2024, nine individuals were removed from a bus and subsequently killed by gunfire after assailants blocked the Quetta-Taftan Highway N-40 close to Noshki.
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