June 11, 2026
By Dauran Baloch
QUETTA
Balochistan’s national highways and transport network remain at a standstill as a province-wide wheel jam strike continues, triggered by escalating security concerns, repeated incidents of truck and bus burnings, and disputes over compensation and safety guarantees.
Since June 11, the strike called by the All Balochistan Transporters’ Association has brought both passenger and goods transport to a complete halt. Major highways across the province present a deserted look, while bus terminals remain crowded with stranded passengers facing severe disruption to daily life.
Transporters say the situation has been deteriorating for years, citing repeated attacks on vehicles and inadequate compensation from authorities.
“Night travel has become impossible,” says transport owner
Transport owner Naseebullah said the crisis has severely damaged the sector’s operations and financial stability.
“Our buses and trucks have been burned for several years. Night travel has been stopped, which has severely affected our operations. A journey that used to take 20 hours now takes two to three days because of restrictions on night movement,” he said.
He further stated that highways across Balochistan remain unsafe, with repeated incidents of vehicle burnings. “The government talks about compensation in the range of 10 lakh rupees, while our losses run into millions. This is not acceptable,” he added.
Naseebullah said transporters demand restoration of secure night travel and full compensation for all burned vehicles. “If any future incident occurs, full compensation must also be ensured. Otherwise, this protest will continue indefinitely,” he warned.
“Fear exists even during daytime,” says bus driver
Bus driver Bilal Khan said insecurity has now extended beyond night travel.
“Earlier we were only afraid at night, but now people feel unsafe even during the day. No one feels secure anywhere, and the government is not providing protection,” he said.
He urged authorities to take immediate steps to ensure safety for transport workers and passengers. “Until proper measures are taken, the public will remain unconvinced,” he added.
Passengers stranded for days amid rising costs
Passenger Samad described the severe hardship faced by travelers due to the suspension of inter-district and inter-provincial transport.
“Patients, students, and exam candidates are all suffering. People are stuck in Quetta for days, living in hotels where rents and food prices have increased,” he said.
He added that many passengers have exhausted their savings. “We have no money left, and even travel expenses are gone. The government and transporters should resolve this issue and stop troubling ordinary people. We feel completely unsafe in this situation,” he said.
Business community warns of prolonged shutdown
Balochistan Chamber of Commerce President Ayoub Mirani said the ongoing unrest has severely impacted economic activity across the province.
“Business has been devastated due to the fragile situation in Balochistan. We have prepared a list of 25 demands through 22 to 23 organizations,” he said.
He warned that if even a single demand remains unaddressed, the strike and shutter-down movement would continue indefinitely.
“These demands are linked to both the provincial and federal governments. We have also raised them with the Prime Minister, but there has been no meaningful assurance so far,” he added.
Government response remains absent
VoicePknet team tried to contact to obtain an official response from the spokesperson of the Chief Minister of Balochistan Shahid Rind regarding the ongoing shutter-down strike and security situation reportedly remained unsuccessful, as repeated calls were not answered.
Situation remains unresolved
With transport fully paralyzed and negotiations yet to yield progress, Balochistan continues to face a deepening crisis affecting mobility, trade, and daily life. Transporters, passengers, and business leaders alike warn that unless urgent measures are taken, the standoff could continue indefinitely.