Balochistan High Court reviews public transport and traffic issues in Quetta
Quetta, The Balochistan High Court bench comprising Chief Justice Muhammad Kamran Khan Malakhail and Justice Muhammad Najamuddin Mengal heard a constitutional petition concerning public transport, local buses, rickshaws, and traffic problems in Quetta.
During the hearing, Additional Advocate General Zahoor Baloch, officials from the Balochistan Traffic Engineering Bureau, Quetta Development Authority, Metropolitan Corporation Quetta, and other departments appeared before the court, while petitioner’s counsel Advocate Anum Khair and representatives of the Regional Transport Authority also attended.
The Regional Transport Authority submitted a progress report outlining initiatives such as the provision of twenty-seven electric vehicles on feeder routes, two electric buses for Quetta, ten diesel buses for other districts, allocation of transport facilities for lawyers including buses, vans, shuttle carts, and one hundred pink electric scooters with helmets, transfer of land for a local bus stand at Sariab Road, computerization of over nine thousand rickshaw permits, and action against illegal rickshaws.
However, the President of the High Court Bar Association, Advocate Attaullah Langau, drew the court’s attention to the fact that despite earlier judicial directives, local buses continue to operate on central and feeder routes in violation of orders. He also noted delays in implementing transport facilities for lawyers, with only scooters delivered so far.
The court was informed that land for the bus stand at Sariab Road has not yet been transferred to the RTA, hindering progress. Officials explained that the electric vehicle project, initially allocated Rs. 1.235 billion, was revised under the Public-Private Partnership Authority to Rs. 595.720 million and is currently under review by the Planning and Development Department.
The petitioner personally expressed dissatisfaction, stating that traffic conditions in Quetta and surrounding areas remain unimproved, while authorities continue to submit reports instead of taking practical measures.
Expressing concern, the bench directed the Secretary Transport Department to submit comprehensive reports signed personally, covering the current status of land transfer for the local bus stand, progress on provision of electric vehicles as alternatives to motor rickshaws, implementation of transport facilities for lawyers, and details on the operation of old and unfit buses in Quetta.
The court further ordered officials from the Planning and Development Department, RTA, and Traffic Engineering Bureau to appear in person at the next hearing. The case was adjourned until September 8, 2026, with copies of the order sent to the Additional Advocate General’s office for compliance.