Quetta: Traders in Pakistan’s Balochistan province have urged the government to immediately reopen the Lak Pass Tunnel, warning that continued closure could lead to severe shortages of food and medicine across the region.
In a press conference held at the Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industry (QCCI), President Muhammad Ayub Marriani, alongside Deputy Commissioner Quetta Saad Bin Asad, highlighted the growing concerns of the business community. Marriani stressed that if the tunnel remains closed, the economic situation in the province could deteriorate further.
He emphasized the need for resolving political matters amicably, cautioning that failure to do so would escalate difficulties for the people and businesses alike.
Traders lamented that the frequent closures of Balochistan’s key highways have not only inflicted financial losses amounting to millions of rupees but have also disrupted the supply of essential commodities, including food and medicines.
Marriani also cited recent incidents of insecurity, including the torching of fertilizer trucks in Makran and the growing hardships faced by laborers due to the unstable environment.
Deputy Commissioner Saad Bin Asad acknowledged the issues, stating that the sit-in protest by the Balochistan National Party (BNP) at the Lak Pass Tunnel has caused significant inconvenience to the public and business community. He assured that the government is actively working to resolve the matter.
Contrary to the government’s stance, BNP Senior Vice President Sajid Tareen Advocate claimed that the party did not block the highways. Instead, he accused the government of sealing the routes by placing containers.
