Quetta witnessed protests against gas shortages as residents braved the harsh cold and took to the streets, chanting slogans against the administration. The protest followed a similar demonstration in Mastung, where locals blocked the Quetta-Karachi National Highway over the lack of gas and electricity.
Residents in various parts of Quetta, including Spinny Road, have been enduring prolonged gas load-shedding, crippling daily life. Protesters at Spini Road blocked the street, voicing their grievances about how the gas shortage has paralyzed household activities, including cooking and heating, during extreme winter conditions.
Earlier in Mastung, demonstrators expressed frustration over paying timely and inflated utility bills while still being deprived of basic necessities like gas and electricity. Their sit-in brought traffic to a halt on the Quetta-Karachi national highway.
Frequent protests over the lack of essential services such as water, electricity, and gas have become a norm across Balochistan. Protesters accuse the government of neglecting their needs, claiming that residents are being forced to live in “stone-age conditions.”
Criticism of the government extended beyond gas shortages, with residents pointing out failures in health, education, and other basic facilities. Protesters warned that if the administration does not address their concerns, they will escalate their demonstrations further.