Weeks-long road blockades have paralyzed trade, straining ties with Iran and Afghanistan and causing economic havoc across Balochistan.
Along the treacherous cliffs of Chiltan near Quetta’s Lakpass tunnel, dozens of police officers stand watch. This tunnel — a critical route connecting Afghanistan to Karachi and linking Pakistan with Iran — has been blocked for weeks, stalling vital trade.
The blockade stems from a protest led by the Balochistan National Party (BNP), headed by former Chief Minister Akhtar Mengal. The BNP is demanding the release of Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) organiser Dr. Mahrang Baloch and other female activists detained last month.
This disruption has choked local and cross-border trade. Traders report over 800 stranded containers and tankers carrying LPG, fresh produce, and other goods. The delays are racking up massive financial losses — not just for businesses, but also impacting the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR)’s tax collection goals in the region.
Blame Game Intensifies
Tensions between the BNP and the provincial government have escalated, with both sides accusing each other of deepening the crisis. Government spokesperson Shahid Rind said the BNP was offered an alternative protest site at Quetta’s Shahwani Stadium, which they declined. In contrast, BNP leaders accuse the administration of blocking roads to deliberately prevent marchers from reaching the city, forcing them to camp at Lakpass.
“This is the first time a government has blocked highways to stop its own people from traveling,” Mengal claimed.
From March to Standoff
Initially planned as a long march starting from Wadh and ending in Quetta, the protest began after a March 25 police crackdown on BYC members. The action drew strong criticism from human rights groups, including Amnesty International, which called it a systematic attack on Baloch activists.
What followed was a renewed surge of Baloch nationalist sentiment, with Akhtar Mengal re-emerging as a key political voice. He recently stepped back from parliamentary politics, citing increasing repression.
Mengal criticized the arrest of hundreds of BNP members, including minors, and said the state was pushing peaceful protesters to the margins. “We still believe in non-violent resistance,” he said, adding that future political participation hinges on how the state conducts upcoming elections.
In a candid conversation, Mengal said he hoped politics would take a more progressive turn but admitted cultural traditions still restrict women’s participation, including voting. Referring to the backlash over Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz’s room being searched, he pointed out the double standards: “When it happens in Punjab, it’s considered a violation of a woman’s honor — but not in Balochistan.”
He condemned Dr. Mahrang Baloch’s arrest, suggesting it was driven by fear of her peaceful activism.
Economic Fallout Deepens
The Lakpass Tunnel connects three key divisions — Makran, Kalat, and Rakhshan — making its closure a logistical nightmare. In a joint press briefing with local officials, the Quetta Chamber of Commerce warned that the economic toll was snowballing.
Essential supplies — including food, poultry, and life-saving medicines — are running short. Prices are surging, hitting ordinary citizens the hardest.
“These roadblocks are causing massive losses and damaging our credibility with international partners,” said Agha Gul Khaliji, the chamber’s vice president. “Clients don’t care who’s responsible — all they see is an unreliable supply chain.”
Among those impacted is Haji Shojat Ali Eassazi, a Chagai-based trader dealing in LPG, tiles, and fresh imports via Bandar Abbas. He described the current business environment in Balochistan as “unsustainable,” with daily protests and road closures hurting border trade the most.
The Afghan transit trade is also feeling the heat. Jalat Khan Achakzai, former president of the Chaman Chamber of Commerce, said Afghan businesses were shifting to Iranian ports, bypassing Pakistan. This shift, he warned, could inflict long-term damage on the economic lifelines of border towns like Chaman.
Transport Gridlocked
Passenger movement has also ground to a halt. Provincial transport union spokesperson Nasir Shahwani said around 400 passenger buses and vans have been stranded since the protest began, impacting hundreds of daily wage workers.
“This isn’t just a delay — it’s a livelihood crisis,” he said.
Government roadblocks have left entire communities cut off, particularly in the Rakhshan division. Abdul Nabi from Kharan said he couldn’t find affordable transport to take his heart patient father to Quetta for treatment.
Imad Baloch, a 22-year-old law student, shared how he paid Rs4,000 just to reach Quetta for his exams. He added that many underprivileged students were hit hard, especially since the government also cut internet access — further complicating exam preparations.
“Our town’s students are trying to study for competitive exams without internet — it’s unbearable,” he said.
Rind, the provincial government’s spokesperson, said traffic was being diverted and that reopening the Lakpass Tunnel was under consideration. He declined to comment on the detention of BNP workers or potential negotiations.
Standoff Without a Solution
There’s no clear resolution in sight. At a multi-party conference held at Lakpass, Akhtar Mengal and other political leaders urged the government to resolve Balochistan’s issues through dialogue, not force.
They called for implementation of the constitutional provisions tied to Balochistan’s 1948 Instrument of Accession and warned that a hardline approach would only inflame tensions.
The event was attended by leaders from parties including JUI, National Party (both factions), Awami National Party, Jamaat-i-Islami, PTM, Majlis Wahdat-ul-Muslimeen, and others from the political and business community.
BNP senior leader Sana Ullah Baloch told reporters the party’s next steps depend on the government’s response. “So far, its attitude has been anti-people,” he said, demanding the immediate release of all arrested activists, particularly those detained under colonial-era laws like the 3MPO.
