Road Accidents in Balochistan
In today’s modern era, the world is making rapid progress in every walk of life. And everything that was once traditional is making way for modernity, where the rights of citizens remain at the center. However, the situation in Balochistan remains alarmingly high, where people are deprived of their basic rights; they do not even have the right to life. Road accidents pose a significant threat, costing thousands of lives each year. Unfortunately, road accidents in the province have become a daily occurrence. In such incidents, every day, a number of people get injured or even lose their lives. Some of the victims of the road accidents are burnt beyond recognition.
According to a yearly report of 2024, from January to December 2024, “22,252 accidents occurred all over the province of Balochistan. In these terrible incidents, 402 people have died, and 30,596 people got injured.” This report was published by the Medical Emergency Response Center Balochistan at the end of December 2024.
Whenever we pick up a newspaper, we find at least two or three stories involving road accidents. A few days ago, a terrible accident happened near the Wadh Bazar area. A car approaching at full speed hit an elderly man who crossed the road, costing him his life on the spot.
Because of this single Karachi to Chaman road, these kinds of incidents occur in every area of Balochistan. When we look at the reasons for accidents, one reason for the high number of accidents is the fact that the Karachi-Chaman road, also known as N25, is a single road, making the overall situation precarious by increasing the chance of collision between vehicles. Apart from that, there are many other reasons for such road accidents. Firstly, careless driving, which includes speeding in populated areas, distraction, like usage of smartphones or being under the influence of drugs, as well as lack of sleep, which are major contributors to accidents. Lastly, poor road infrastructure is also a main culprit, causing life threats to the masses of Balochistan.
Road accidents result in a large number of fatalities and injuries. It also leaves the families devastated and impacts the overall quality of life. There should be public awareness and road safety. The road should also be maintained regularly. The government must take immediate action to complete the dual road Karachi to Chaman as soon as possible to save lives and minimize road accidents. By taking such steps, the government can reduce the number of accidents and ensure safer and more secure roads for its citizens.
Yaseen Baloch
