Train services from Quetta to the rest of the country remain suspended for the 10th consecutive day following the attack on the Jaffar Express.

Many routes across the province remain blocked, making travel nearly impossible for citizens. With bus services also disrupted, people are facing severe difficulties, while airlines have drastically increased fares, adding to their woes.

Rail operations in Quetta have remained halted for ten days, severing Balochistan’s land connection with Sindh.

The attack on the Jaffar Express on March 11 not only led to the suspension of train services but also disrupted passenger buses and commercial transport, turning hours-long journeys into days.

Several districts within Balochistan are also cut off from each other. In Qalat, an abundance of watermelons remains unsold as they cannot be transported to Quetta. Similarly, goods from Khuzdar cannot reach Karachi or Quetta.

Travel costs have surged due to the crisis. The ticket for the Karachi-bound route via Bolan, which previously cost Rs4,000, has now increased to Rs7,000-8,000.

Meanwhile, one-way airfare has soared to Rs70,000–80,000. The blockade has also led to skyrocketing prices of fruits, vegetables, and other essential goods arriving from outside the province.

The Quetta-Karachi and Quetta-Panjgur highways remain blocked, and train services have not resumed. Air travel has become unaffordable for the average citizen.

According to railway officials, both Jaffar Express to Peshawar and Bolan Mail to Karachi remain non-operational. They confirmed that the suspension has severely impacted travellers relying on train services to reach Sindh, Punjab, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, especially duringthe peak travel season.

Many passengers trying to reach their hometowns are facing significant hardships.

The suspension has also inflicted heavy financial losses on Pakistan Railways, with daily revenue losses amounting to millions of rupees.

Officials stated that train services will only resume once security clearance is granted.

It is worth noting that the suspension began on March 11 following a terrorist attack on the Jaffar Express in the Kachhi district.