Attacks on cargo vehicles and disruptions to legal trade: Balochistan traders seek centre’s intervention

ISLAMABAD: Representatives of Balochistan’s business community, transporters, importers, exporters, mine owners, traders, farmers and other stakeholders have demanded an immediate government intervention to address the growing attacks on cargo vehicles and disruptions to legal trade and transportation activities.

The demand was made during a consultative meeting chaired by Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI) President Haji Muhammad Ayub Mariani and attended by office-bearers of the chamber, transport unions, traders’ associations, the Zamindar Action Committee and representatives of various business sectors.

Following detailed deliberations, participants agreed to form a committee comprising all stakeholders to coordinate future actions and engage with the government on security and business-related concerns.

Addressing the meeting, Mariani said the entire province was facing serious challenges and stressed the need for a unified response. He revealed that he had raised the issue of highway closures and attacks on cargo vehicles with the prime minister who assured him that an empowered committee would be dispatched to address the situation.

“We hope the highways will be reopened and normal business activities restored. If the situation does not improve, we will decide our future course of action,” he said, adding that all affected sectors would be represented in the newly formed committee.

Balochistan Goods Truck Owners Association President Haji Noor Muhammad Shahwani said that 28 cargo trucks had been set on fire during the past two weeks, causing substantial financial losses. He expressed disappointment over the lack of response from government authorities and warned that transport operations would remain suspended until losses suffered by transporters were compensated.

LPG Association leader Syed Atiqullah Agha said the relocation of LPG loading operations from Taftan to Mirjawa had further complicated matters for businesses. He also claimed that six tanker drivers had been abducted and were being held for ransom. He called for the formation of a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to probe the fire incident at the Customs House.

Pakistan Mines Owners Association Secretary General Syed Fateh Shah Arif said the problem of trucks being torched was not new and had persisted since 1995. He noted that mine owners had already paid Rs 250 million in compensation to truck owners over the years, but insisted that it was now the government’s responsibility to compensate both transporters and mine owners.

Several participants called for stronger collective action, warning that business activities across the province had been severely disrupted. Representatives of fruit and vegetable traders, transport associations and other business groups urged the government to restore safe movement of goods.

The participants demanded that the provincial government allocate a compensation fund for business losses. They warned that if concrete measures were not taken, they would be compelled to launch protests.

The meeting concluded with the formal establishment of a stakeholders’ committee, which is scheduled to hold its first meeting on Thursday to formulate recommendations and determine future actions.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026