Mystery Fire at Lak Pass Customs Warehouse Raises Serious Allegations of Corruption and Accountability Failure

Quetta: A massive fire broke out at a customs warehouse in the Lak Pass area of Balochistan, destroying confiscated goods worth millions of rupees and triggering serious questions about governance, monitoring, and accountability within the customs department.
The customs authority in Quetta, already under scrutiny due to an alleged “silver bricks” substitution scandal, is now facing fresh controversy following the sudden blaze.
According to reports, the fire erupted in the warehouse located near Lak Pass, rapidly spreading and engulfing the entire facility. Authorities confirmed that the incident caused extensive damage to seized goods, including imported cigarettes, betel nut, and other valuable items.
During the fire, a gas bowser explosion reportedly injured at least 31 people, several of whom sustained serious burns. The incident also led to the closure of key highways, including the Quetta–Karachi and Quetta–Taftan national routes, due to safety concerns.
Sources claim that large quantities of high-value smuggled goods may have already been removed or illegally sold before the fire, raising suspicions that the incident could be linked to an attempt to destroy records or evidence of irregularities.
Eyewitness accounts and internal reports further suggest that customs personnel disappeared from the site shortly after the fire began, while chaos erupted and some individuals allegedly looted goods from the warehouse.
Security forces reportedly fired warning shots as they attempted to control the situation, but several suspected smugglers managed to escape with vehicles.
Deputy Commissioner Bahram Saleem visited the site and reviewed ongoing relief and emergency operations.
The incident has sparked widespread concern among political and public circles, with calls for a high-level forensic investigation and the formation of a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to determine the exact cause of the fire and uncover possible corruption within the customs department.
Officials from the customs department have rejected allegations of deliberate arson, insisting that investigations are underway to determine the actual cause of the blaze.