Balochistan High Court Orders Action Against Encroachments on Sariab Road, Directs “Lahore Model” for Street Vendors
Quetta: The Balochistan High Court has directed authorities to take firm action against encroachments obstructing the beauty and traffic flow of Quetta, particularly along Sariab Road, and ordered the implementation of a “Lahore model” to properly accommodate street vendors.
The directives were issued by Chief Justice Muhammad Kamran Khan Mulakhail and Justice Najmuddin Mengal during the hearing of Constitutional Petition No. 824/2016. The court instructed the Director of the Quetta Development Project to complete the construction of a monument near the Methodist Church on a priority basis, keeping in view the upcoming Christmas and Easter festivals, with special emphasis on expediting work at Imdad Chowk corner.
During the hearing, progress reports on Sariab Road and the storm water drain project were presented. According to the report, 98 percent (15,675 meters) of the storm water drain has been completed, while 13,500 meters of asphalt base course on the road have also been finalized. At Airport Road, a wastewater treatment plant has been installed on a trial basis, and its solarization process is currently underway.
Regarding encroachments on Sariab Road, counsel for the Cantonment Board informed the court that funds for human resources required to remove encroachments were not available. The court observed that after the expansion of Sariab Road, footpaths near Benazir Park had merged into the roadway, where fruit vendors had once again created obstructions.
The court directed the Project Director to devise a mechanism and allocate designated spaces for street vendors on Sariab Road and on the plot between Huda Graveyard and Jail Road, in line with the Lahore Metropolitan Corporation model. During the proceedings, QESCO officials assured the court of full cooperation in removing electricity poles that hinder traffic flow.
The court adjourned the hearing of the case until March 5, 2026.
