In response to potential security threats in Balochistan’s Surab district, the Assistant Commissioner of Surab has issued new security directives for all public transport operators, including bus and van services. The measures will come into effect from July 21, 2025.
According to the official notification, the following security steps are now mandatory for all public transport vehicles operating across the district:
- Deployment of private security guards on each coach and wagon
- Installation of GPS tracking systems
- Presence of an emergency alarm button in the vehicles
- Installation of CCTV cameras inside buses and vans
The notification states that these steps are essential to safeguard the lives and property of the public. Failure to comply with the new security protocols by July 22, 2025, will result in strict legal action.
This move comes amid heightened security concerns following an attack near Nimargh in the Kalat district, where a passenger bus traveling from Karachi to Quetta was targeted. According to the Balochistan government, three people were killed in that incident.
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the Kalat attack, stating that its target was Pakistani security personnel traveling in a civilian bus. The group further claimed to have killed 27 members of the security forces, contradicting the Balochistan government’s claim of three deaths.
The administration described the new security plan as a precautionary measure. However, several local transport operators have expressed concerns over the directives, arguing that it is not feasible to meet these requirements without financial and technical support. They pointed out the particular difficulty for long-route buses that remain on the road from morning until evening.
This is not the first time such measures have been proposed. In April 2025, the BLA carried out a similar attack near Nushki, targeting military personnel traveling in civilian transport. That incident also led to increased demands for better security on buses across Balochistan.