BHC Seeks Progress on Quetta Public Transport Projects

Independent Report QUETTA , Sept 7: The Balochistan High Court has expressed concern over persistent traffic and public transport issues in Quetta, directing the provincial authorities to furnish detailed reports on key initiatives aimed at improving the city's transport system. The court sought updates on plans to replace motor rickshaws with electric vehicles, establish a local bus stand, introduce a dedicated transport facility for lawyers and address the continued operation of old and unfit buses in the provincial capital. A two-member bench comprising Chief Justice Balochistan High Court Justice Muhammad Kamran Khan Mulakhail and Justice Muhammad Najmuddin Mengal issued the directives while hearing a constitutional petition concerning public transport, local buses, rickshaws and traffic conditions in Quetta. Additional Advocate General Zahoor Baloch, Balochistan Traffic Engineering Bureau Director Administration Shakeel Ahmed, petitioner's counsel Anum Khair, Quetta Metropolitan Corporation counsel Izhar-ul-Haq Tareen, QDA counsel Muhammad Akram Shah, QDA Director General Aurangzeb Kasi and other concerned officials appeared before the bench. The Secretary of the Regional Transport Authority (RTA), Quetta Division, informed the court through a progress report that several transport initiatives were in various stages of implementation. These included the proposed deployment of 27 electric vehicles on feeder routes in Quetta, two electric buses for the city and 10 diesel buses for other districts of Balochistan. The report also covered the proposed transport facility for lawyers, transfer of land for a local bus stand on Sariab Road, issuance of coaster permits for the Quetta-Kuchlak route, action against unauthorized and excess rickshaws and the computerization of 9,451 manually issued rickshaw permits. Balochistan High Court Bar Association President Advocate Attaullah Langove informed the bench that local buses were still operating on major and feeder routes of Quetta despite earlier judicial directions. He said two diesel buses, two pink vans, two electric shuttle carts and 100 pink electric scooters had been allocated for lawyers in Quetta, Pishin and Khuzdar. However, he maintained that the broader transport scheme had not achieved the required level of implementation. The court was further informed that 100 pink electric scooters along with helmets had been received, while arrangements for the remaining transport facilities for lawyers were still incomplete. The Additional Advocate General told the bench that land designated for the local bus stand at the old octroi warehouse site on Sariab Road had not yet been transferred to the Commissioner/Chairman Regional Transport Authority and the RTA Secretary, delaying progress on the project. Giving details of the proposed transition from rickshaws to electric vehicles, the Director Administration of the Balochistan Traffic Engineering Bureau said Rs1.2353 billion had originally been allocated for the initiative. He said the project was subsequently placed under the Public-Private Partnership Authority, following which its revised cost was brought down to Rs595.720 million. The proposal is currently being examined by the Planning and Development Department for a final decision. The petitioner argued that the traffic situation in Quetta and surrounding areas had shown little improvement despite previous orders of the court, alleging that the departments concerned were primarily submitting progress reports without taking adequate practical measures. The bench directed the Additional Advocate General to present comprehensive reports at the next hearing, duly signed by the Transport Secretary, covering the latest status and tangible progress regarding the transfer of land for the local bus stand, replacement of rickshaws with electric vehicles and the transport scheme for lawyers. The court separately instructed the RTA Secretary to submit a detailed account of old and unfit buses operating anywhere in Quetta. Officials from the Planning and Development Department, Regional Transport Authority and Balochistan Traffic Engineering Bureau were ordered to appear before the court in person at the next hearing. The hearing was adjourned until September 8, 2026.