Massive Fire at Customs Warehouse in Mastung Damages Hundreds of Vehicles, Sparks Investigation Demands

Quetta: More details have emerged regarding the massive fire that erupted at a Customs Department warehouse in the Lakpass area of Mastung district near Quetta, with reports indicating extensive destruction and growing demands for an investigation into the incident.

According to reports, the Customs Department has not yet officially disclosed the number of non-custom-paid vehicles stored at the warehouse. However, a fire brigade official estimated that more than 200 vehicles were damaged in the blaze that broke out on May 10.

The incident was also discussed during a session of the Balochistan Assembly, where National Party lawmaker Rahmat Baloch remarked that the scale of destruction caused by the fire was unprecedented.

Speaker of the Balochistan Assembly Abdul Khaliq Achakzai directed the Chief Secretary of Balochistan to form an inquiry committee to investigate the incident and submit a report within 30 days.

The warehouse, located along the Quetta-Karachi Highway near a Customs checkpoint, reportedly contained seized foreign goods, non-custom-paid vehicles, petroleum products, cigarettes, betel nut, tires, and clothing.

Fire brigade official Umar Din Khetran said that when rescue teams arrived at the scene, strong winds had intensified the fire, which had already spread across a large area. Additional fire vehicles were called in, but it took a long time to bring the blaze under control.

He added that highly flammable materials and LPG tankers were present inside the warehouse, and several explosions occurred after some tankers burst into flames. “I witnessed massive destruction there,” he said.

According to Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Director Ataullah Mengal, 35 people were injured in the incident due to an LPG tanker explosion. Among them, 20 suffered burns of up to 30 percent, while seven were reported to be in critical condition.

During the assembly debate, opposition lawmakers alleged that the fire was not accidental but deliberately set as part of a conspiracy. Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam lawmaker Asghar Tareen claimed that the warehouse was set ablaze after the alleged theft of vehicles.

Rahmat Baloch also alleged that the fire was intentionally started and claimed that losses from the incident amounted to nearly Rs15 billion.

Lawmakers further stated that many of the destroyed vehicles and goods belonged to local traders whose cases were pending in courts, while some traders had already obtained court release orders before their property was destroyed in the fire.

The assembly members demanded compensation for the affected traders and called for a transparent investigation involving both the assembly and judiciary.