QUETTA: Balochistan, the largest province in Pakistan, is grappling with severe traffic safety issues due to its lack of double-lane highways, leading to numerous accidents and fatalities.
A 2021 report revealed that 8,000 people died in highway accidents in Balochistan within a single year. This figure starkly contrasts with the 2,238 fatalities from terrorism over the past decade. The Quetta-Karachi Highway, an 813 km road crucial for the region, is notorious for accidents and has earned the nickname “Killer Road.” This single-lane highway witnesses over 800 accidents annually.
Tragic stories abound. In 2019, nine family members perished when their van collided with a truck on the Quetta-Karachi Highway. In another incident, all 27 passengers died when a bus caught fire in Lasbela. Among the victims of these perilous roads was Capt. Tariq Zehri, a former Commissioner of Makran, who died in an accident involving an oil tanker.
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The Balochistan Medical Emergency Response Centre recently reported 46,000 traffic incidents over the past five years, resulting in 64,000 injuries. The N25 highway is particularly dangerous due to frequent accidents caused by speeding, driver errors, and its single-lane configuration.
The province’s dire need for infrastructure improvement is evident as it seeks to prevent further loss of life and enhance road safety for its residents.
