Lack of Facilities and Delays at Lakpass Tunnel Checkpoint Cause Hardships for Balochistan Travelers

Nushki:The Lakpass Tunnel Checkpoint on the Quetta-Karachi National Highway, which connects Pakistan to Iran, Turkey, Europe, and links Balochistan to Sindh, has become a major source of inconvenience for travelers. People from thousands of rural areas, including Chagai, Nushki, Khuzdar, Qalat, and parts of southern Balochistan, must pass through the Lakpass Tunnel to reach the provincial capital, Quetta. Additionally, European tourists also use this tunnel to enter Pakistan, while Balochistan’s residents must pass through the checkpoint to reach Karachi or Iran.

The Lakpass Tunnel Checkpoint is located in a mountainous region and is close to the FC (Frontier Corps) checkpoint. The daily traffic jams caused by these checkpoints have become a routine, often halting traffic for hours. The area itself is extremely cold, with temperatures recorded as low as minus 10°C. The freezing conditions, combined with the long delays, make life difficult for travelers, particularly women, children, and the elderly.

Travelers must pass through six checkpoints between Nushki and Quetta, a distance of 144 kilometers. These delays lead to severe discomfort, wasted time, and other hardships. Given the international importance of this highway for both local residents and tourists, as well as the significant difficulties faced by Balochistan’s population, there is a strong demand for the removal of the Lakpass Tunnel checkpoint.

Local residents and travelers alike have called for the checkpoint to be removed, urging authorities to consider the human aspect of these challenges. The request is being made on humanitarian grounds to relieve the people of Balochistan from the daily struggles and provide smoother travel options, given the economic and strategic importance of the region.