QUETTA: A province-wide wheel-jam and shutter-down strike brought life to a standstill across Balochistan on Thursday, as business communities, lawyers, political parties, labour unions and doctors protested over what they termed a deteriorating law and order situation.
Markets, shopping centres, plazas and commercial hubs in Quetta and other parts of the province remained completely closed, while inter-city and inter-provincial highways were blocked, severely disrupting transport and trade activity.
According to details, major highways connecting Quetta with Chaman, Dera Ghazi Khan, Zhob and Ziarat were closed at Kachlak and other points. Similarly, routes linking Quetta with Karachi, Khuzdar, Nushki, Taftan, Sibi and Jacobabad were blocked at Lakpass, Mastung and Kolpur, leaving thousands of passengers and transporters stranded.
Protest organisers placed vehicles and barriers on roads to suspend traffic movement, causing widespread inconvenience to commuters and disrupting supply chains across the province.
In Quetta, all markets and business centres remained shuttered, while public transport stayed off the roads, resulting in near-total suspension of routine life.
Meanwhile, Babar Yousafzai, Assistant to the Balochistan Home Department, said that most of the demands raised by protesting groups fall under the jurisdiction of the federal government, adding that the provincial government was acting as a facilitator and mediator between stakeholders.
He said the provincial administration was making efforts to address concerns of traders and other segments of society and to create ease for the business community.
Transport and business representatives said the strike was triggered by repeated attacks on mineral transport vehicles across the province, which have increased in recent months. They said dozens of trucks carrying minerals and goods had been set on fire in areas including Nushki, Harnai, Khuzdar, Turbat, Panjgur, Pishin and Zhob, causing losses worth millions of rupees.
Transporters said that during the past four to five weeks alone, dozens of vehicles had been torched by unidentified armed men, demanding that highways be secured to ensure safe movement of goods and passengers.
Quetta Chamber of Commerce President Muhammad Ayub Maryani said continued attacks on trucks were inflicting heavy losses on transporters, traders and mine owners. He urged both federal and provincial governments to jointly ensure security on highways.
He warned that the strike would continue until their demands were met, while lawyers’ associations also boycotted court proceedings in protest against the deteriorating security situation.
The strike severely affected business activity across the province, with economic and social life coming to a virtual halt amid continued uncertainty over security conditions.
