QUETTA: Truck owners in Balochistan have announced that they will no longer transport minerals across the province following a series of attacks on vehicles carrying mineral cargo.
The announcement was made by the Balochistan Goods Truck Owners Association, which said transporters are facing growing security threats on highways in different parts of the province.
President of the association, Haji Noor Muhammad Shahwani, said trucks loaded with minerals have increasingly become targets of armed attacks. According to the association, at least 12 trucks were attacked during the past week alone, causing financial losses estimated at Rs180 million.
He said the worsening law and order situation forced transporters to stop loading and transporting minerals until security conditions improve. Shahwani warned that if any truck is damaged in future incidents, the relevant mining company would be held responsible.
Transporters also criticized the lack of security on major highways, saying protection measures are almost non-existent despite repeated incidents. They alleged that instead of facilitating transporters, police, customs officials and other authorities often harass truck drivers and transport companies.
The association further raised concerns over a recent fire at a customs warehouse, claiming that transporters suffered losses worth billions of rupees after vehicles parked at the facility were destroyed in the blaze.
Transporters accused customs authorities of delaying decisions on cases involving seized vehicles, saying prolonged legal and administrative procedures increased their losses. They demanded an independent investigation into the customs warehouse fire under the supervision of a high court judge.
The transporters also called on authorities to compensate affected truck owners and improve security arrangements on highways used for mineral transportation in Balochistan.
