Staff Reporter:
QUETTA: In a major policy shift aimed at curbing growing insecurity on national trade routes, the Government of Balochistan has formally approved the creation of a specialized, dedicated highway security force.
The initiative comes in response to immense pressure from traders, local transporters, and mine owners who have recently staged province-wide strikes protesting frequent attacks on freight trucks, passenger coaches, and critical infrastructure.
Funding and Implementation Timeline
Providing details on the multi-billion rupee security framework, Balochistan’s Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Hamza Shafqaat confirmed that the provincial government is heavily prioritizing the safety of commuters and supply chains.
”This strategic project will cost approximately Rs 25 billion, with funding being reallocated from the provincial development budget to meet urgent security needs,” Shafqaat stated. He added that the newly formed force will be fully trained, equipped, and deployed across the province’s sprawling highway network within the next six months.
Bridging the Interim Gap: Convoy Systems
Acknowledging that freight and passenger transport cannot remain suspended while the force is raised, the Home Department has simultaneously greenlit an interim convoy system.
Until the new highway force becomes operational, critical trade links—such as the route from the Taftan border to Quetta—will see transport vehicles escorted in secure, organized groups. This temporary measure will utilize the combined resources of the Frontier Corps (FC), the Anti-Terrorism Force (ATF), and the Pakistan Army to deter highway robberies and militant interference.
Beyond physical security, the provincial administration is actively negotiating with State Life Insurance to introduce a dedicated insurance scheme for cargo vehicles operating in Balochistan, promising fast-tracked compensation for transporters affected by past arson or attacks.
