Quetta Traffic Gridlocked Amid Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s Visit, Residents Express Frustration

Independent Report
Quetta, February 10: The visit of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif to Quetta led to severe traffic disruptions across the city, leaving commuters—including women, children, and patients—stranded for hours as major roads were blocked.
Residents reported long delays and significant inconvenience, criticizing the security protocols that accompany high-profile visits for causing greater hardship to the public than the intended benefits. Although some streets remained open, diversions and closures of key roads intensified congestion, turning routine travel into a prolonged ordeal.
Citizens have urged authorities to consider alternative arrangements for VIP movements, such as using helicopters between airports, Governor House, and Cantonment areas, to reduce the impact on everyday commuters. They also called for proactive measures to prevent Quetta from being treated as a VIP-exclusive zone during such visits, stressing the need to safeguard normal city life while maintaining security protocols.