Pakistan is home to some of the most dangerous roads in the world, and unfortunately, the Quetta-Karachi National Highway is among them. The road, spanning over 800 kilometers, is a major transportation route connecting Balochistan and Sindh provinces.
At least 787 people lost their lives while 38,759 others sustained injuries in traffic accidents on the road over the past three and a half years. Sadly, the situation has only worsened in recent months, with more than 55 people killed and 60 injured in 10 separate accidents on the same highway in just four months.
The Emergency Response Center (ERC) reports that from October 2019 to March 2023, a total of 28,646 accidents occurred on Balochistan’s five national highways. The report further reveals that in the first quarter of this year alone, 264 traffic accidents on different national highways of Balochistan have affected 646 families.
To address the issue, the General Manager of National Highway Authority stated that work is underway to make the Quetta-Karachi national highway two-lane. He mentioned that the work on the two-lane Quetta-Karachi route to Khuzdar is proceeding at a fast pace. Additionally, work is in progress on Kuchlak Zhob, Nokundi Mashkil, and Hoshab Bela Awran Road, costing Rs. 200 billion.
However, he admitted that lack of funds and security concerns pose problems. Citizens are urging the government to take swift action to construct national highways, particularly the Quetta-Karachi road, to prevent further accidents and loss of lives.
