Balochistan’s roads are a ticking time bomb for travelers. Despite numerous incidents that have claimed innocent lives, the cries for help from this neglected province seem to fall on deaf ears. As Balochistan’s population grows and traffic increases, the infrastructure remains woefully inadequate. The current highway network, which serves as the province’s primary thoroughfare, is a critical concern. With only one major route linking various regions, the situation is perilous.
In 2023, 969 accidents were reported, resulting in 794 deaths, 2,078 injuries, and impacting 2,913 families. However, the actual numbers could be much higher due to unreported incidents.
According to the 2023 WHO report on road traffic injuries, approximately 1.19 million people die each year from road traffic incidents worldwide. Shockingly, more than 90 percent of these fatalities occur in low- and middle-income countries, such as Pakistan. This highlights a significant disparity, as these countries, despite having around 60 percent of the world’s vehicles, suffer a disproportionate number of road traffic deaths.
In addition, more than 90 percent of these accidents are caused by human errors, such as driving under the influence of alcohol, texting while driving, falling asleep at the wheel, or being inattentive.
Human error is a global issue, and Balochistan is no exception. Each year, hundreds of people die in the region due to road accidents caused by reckless driving, poor vehicle conditions, overloading, lack of safety checks, inadequate visibility, insufficient driver training and testing (including mandatory tests for licenses), speeding, fatigue from long journeys, and the use of drugs and alcohol. Additionally, one of the main factors contributing to the high number of accidents is the insufficient planning and development of road infrastructure.
The province has witnessed an alarming number of deaths due to road accidents, with many lives tragically lost. A recent accident in Washuk on May 28, 2024, claimed 26 lives and left 29 others injured, including many intellectuals. The accident was attributed to weak infrastructure and inadequate road safety measures.
Among the victims was Darvish Aziz, a young soul whose life enriched a generation of underprivileged individuals. Through his organization, School for All (SFA), he educated and uplifted countless people. His untimely death has left the community of Kech shrouded in grief.
The accident also claimed the lives of two professors from Turbat University, two medical students from Makran Medical College, and several other passengers. The tragedy in Washuk District serves as a painful reminder of the devastating consequences of road accidents in the region. It underscores the need for urgent attention to road safety, as it appears that the lives of Baloch people are undervalued by the state.
The dilapidated condition of the roads makes travel both troubling and dangerous. Travelers who take buses in Balochistan face numerous difficulties and often suffer from discouragement. Most travelers from Gwadar, Turbat, and Panjgur use the M8 motorway to reach Quetta. To arrive at the Lak Pass tunnel, they must cross three major highways: M8, N85, and N25. Navigating this risky route frequently leads to calamities, sometimes tearing families apart due to fatal road accidents.
Many students who regularly travel these roads, especially from Turbat to Quetta, raise concerns about the lack of oversight from authorities and the poor state of transportation. It is alarming that no one is taking these incidents seriously.
According to the WHO data published in 2020, road traffic accident deaths in Pakistan reached 28,170, accounting for 1.93 percent of total deaths. Paradoxically, while the world progresses in development, Balochistan suffers the most in all forms. The province grapples with insufficient safety measures, which continue to result in a disproportionate loss of life.
“On our beautiful land, we are still grieving; our eyes have seen fewer beauties and more cruelties. The state has a significant role to play in bridging this gap and securing the lives of its people,” says Advocate Siraj Gul, based in Kech.
A report published by The Balochistan Post reveals that the majority of accidents occurred on the Quetta-Karachi Highway, also known as the “Killer Highway.” In 2023 alone, 139 accidents were reported in Mastung, followed by 120 in Khuzdar, 102 in Quetta, 96 in Kalat, and 105 in Gwadar. Cars were involved in the majority of these accidents, with 360 reported incidents, followed by bikes with 186, trucks with 136, and buses with 101.
“Between 6,000 and 8,000 lives are lost due to road accidents in the province annually,” states Ali Sher Jakhrani, a former Deputy Inspector General (DIG) in the Motorway Police in Balochistan. In Balochistan, survival is both troubling and tough. Amidst all the chaos of the 21st century, the Baloch people continue to question their survival and seek a better quality of life.
“The road accidents in Balochistan occur daily due to dilapidated roads, narrow and single-lane highways, a lack of road safety measures and navigation signs, and the absence of traffic engineers in the province,” notes Yahya Badal, a guide based in Kech.
The lack of space is the single biggest cause of accidents on Balochistan’s highways. It is especially challenging to drive on these roads at night due to constant overtaking by passenger buses, which is necessary because of slow-moving traffic on a single carriageway.
The death toll will continue to rise if the highway problems remain unresolved. Most of these highways are not equipped to handle heavy traffic, resources are rapidly depleting, and the roads are in a dilapidated condition with broken bridges. These issues make journeys hazardous and troubling.
The government should prioritize road construction to save lives and address the risks of vehicle collisions. It is essential to properly enforce traffic laws, including those established by the motorway police. The National Highway Authority, created in 1991 through an act of Parliament to plan, develop, operate, and maintain National Highways and Strategic Roads, has yet to fully implement existing laws to reduce the rate of deaths caused by road accidents.
