Hardly a few days pass in Balochistan without a tragic accident. On the night of May 29th, twenty-eight people were killed when a bus traveling from Turbat to Quetta fell into a ditch. In the five months since the start of this year, more than seven thousand accidents have occurred in Balochistan, resulting in over nine thousand injuries and one hundred eighty-seven deaths.
Despite the high number of accidents each year, government institutions have been unable to take the necessary steps to prevent these incidents. Transport companies are also culpable, as they prioritize profit over safety, violating rules and regulations and endangering lives.
A major cause of accidents in Balochistan is the lack of adequate infrastructure, including narrow and congested roads, the absence of two-way roads and motorways, and insufficient safety measures. Government agencies are failing to enforce compliance among transport companies, leading to an increase in accidents due to over speeding and non-compliance by bus drivers.
Despite the loss of thousands of lives every year, the government has not enacted or enforced laws to mitigate these accidents, and transport companies continue to act irresponsibly. It is imperative for both government institutions and transport companies to acknowledge their responsibilities and take practical measures to prevent accidents, rather than merely expressing regret after the incidents.