In Pakistan’s southwestern province of Balochistan, fatal highway accidents have surpassed even terrorism in deadliness as the strategic region prepares to receive $64 billion in investment as a key route of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project.
But to the surprise of many, it is not terrorism but fatal highway accidents, especially along the Quetta-Karachi Highway, that have killed more people in the last decade across the province.
Signed in 2014, the $64 billion project will connect northwest China to Balochistan’s Gwadar port through a network of roads, railways, and pipelines to transport cargo, oil, and gas.
This will provide the shortest route to Chinese cargo destined for the Middle East, Central Asia, and Africa.
According to the government-run Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, nearly 4,000 people have died in the road accidents compared to 2,238 citizens killed in the terrorist attacks in the province during the last decade.
@Asad_Umar The RCD Highway is a strategic route that links Karachi to Quetta, Gwadar, Iran and Afghanistan. It deserves to be upgraded to a motorway. Accidents on the RCD highway have claimed 8000 lives. #Balochistan #Pakistan #CPEC https://t.co/NL9PxmBZcr
— Shahryar Khan Niazi (@shahryarniazi) May 27, 2020
Local media and independent monitors, however, put the death toll in accidents way higher, around 8,000.
Quetta-Karachi Highway: A notorious road for drivers
The 813-kilometer (505-mile) Quetta-Karachi Highway — also known as the RCD highway — is the epicenter of deadly accidents in the province, which covers 42% land of Pakistan.
The single-lane highway, which passes through 10 major cities, is locally know as “the killer road”, as over 800 accidents took place here last year alone.
It is a major NATO supply route, which connects the country’s commercial capital Karachi to Chaman, bordering neighboring Afghanistan.
“Increasing number of deaths in highway accidents are becoming a norm in Balochistan,” read a study recently released by Balochistan Youth and Civil Society, a non-governmental group striving for extension of highways to reduce the growing number of accidents in the province.
“It’s a bigger problem than terrorism in Balochistan,” it added.
Read more: “Balochistan is the future of Pakistan,” COAS Gen. Qamar Bajwa
The highway has witnessed many such fatal accidents, most recently in April 2019, when a passenger wagon collided head-on with a truck that slipped to the other side of Quetta-Karachi Highway due to rain. The massive collision resulted in the death of all nine passengers from the same family who were going to Quetta to attend a funeral.
“This was one of the hundreds of accidents reported in the past few years on this highway but it triggered a public debate demanding the extension of single-lane main highways in the province,” Najeeb Yousaf Zahri, leader of a five-member group – which in March held a “long march” from Karachi to Quetta to press the demand for expansion of highway lanes – said.
Balochistan government acknowledges regulatory lapses
A joint investigation team formed by the Balochistan government to look into the major reasons behind rising number of road accidents, also acknowledged that the traffic authorities do not have any mechanism to monitor the speed limit, and fitness of over 8,000 vehicles passing through the highway daily.
Read more: Neglected province
To make things worse, the report added, drivers are often unable to see ahead on the sharp curves due to mountainous nature of the area.
The inquiry report recommended immediate expansion of the highway into a two-way road to reduce the number of accidents, often caused by overtaking.
Balochistan: poor road infrastructure compounds danger
The province has a staggering 40,000 kilometers (24,855 miles) network of roads and highways, but none of them has double-lane.
Sanaullah Baloch, a member of the Balochistan Provincial Assembly, echoed a similar view.
“Poor road network is one of the key problems Balochistan has been facing for the last 72 years. It has not only badly hit the local economy and the social fabric, but the national integrity,” said Baloch, an ex Senator and the leader of Balochistan National Party — an ally of Premier Imran Khan’s government.
#Balochistan is systematically neglected in #Road & #infrastructure sector , critical elements for #socio–#economic development.
This is “Sultan Charaee” , on RCD Highway connecting four Districts & Quetta to #Iran, notorious for countless fatal accidents – #NHA #CPEC = 0 pic.twitter.com/npeQ1QzJgw
— Senator (R) Sana Ullah BALOCH (@Senator_Baloch) July 20, 2019
His party struck a six-point agreement with Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf after 2018 elections to form the government, of which, the top demand was the expansion of Balochistan’s road network, particularly the Quetta-Karachi Highway.
“If at least this highway is expanded, it will not only significantly reduce the number of accidents but will also improve the national connectivity,” Baloch said, adding: “It’s not the CPEC but an improved road network that will lead to economic prosperity in Balochistan”.
Liaquat Shahwani, a spokesman for the Balochistan government also acknowledged the seriousness of the issue.
“Nothing is serious than this issue for Balochistan. People die everyday due to this [poor road network],” Shahwani told Anadolu Agency.
The federal government, he said, had allocated 500 million Pakistani rupees ($3.1 million) for preparation of a feasibility report to improve the road network in the province.
“But we need much more, and immediately. We have requested the federal government for that time and again,” he said.
“But unfortunately, nothing substantial has so far happened”, he added.
Balochistan: historically neglected
The large Balochistan province, also considered covering parts of neighboring Iran and Afghanistan, is strategically important because of the rich presence of copper, zinc and natural gas but has a poor road infrastructure.
In addition, the province, despite covering 42% of the landmass of Pakistan, happens to be the most underdeveloped region in Pakistan. This is compounded by the fact that its vast mountains and rugged terrains are a hiding spot for separatist elements backed by India, who advocate a separation from Pakistan. The valour, courage and personal sacrifice of the Pakistani Law Enforcement Agencies in countering these elements has considerably reduced the insurgency, and has been instrumental in extending the writ of the state to areas previously regarded as no man’s land.
Read more: 10th NFC Award: Will Javed Jabbar get Balochistan its due share?
However, the aforementioned efforts have seen development work in the province stalled, with economic stimulus packages not trickling down to the people who need them most. This was manifested most recently when no Baloch representative was nominated as private member of Pakistan’s 10th National Finance Commission award.
CPEC: A game-changer for Balochistan?
The China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has widely been touted as a regional game changer, and a strong shot in the arm for Balochistan’s economy.
Read more: CPEC Western Corridor’s completion next year to boost economy of remote areas
China-Pak Economic Corridor (CPEC) Chairman and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information Lt-Gen (R) Asim Saleem Bajwa tweeted completion of 69 percent of work on a key leg of the Rs 212 billion worth Corridor project.
A four-lane expressway from Hakla near Islamabad to Dera Ismail Khan will reduce travel time between Dera Ismail Khan and Islamabad from five hours to two and half hours.
Hakla (near Islamabad) to DI Khan 4 lane Motorway (292.5 KMs)construction in full swing. 69% work completed. Travel time will reduce from 5 hours to 2.5 hours #cpec #CPECMakingProgress pic.twitter.com/s4dzZQHJgP
— Asim Saleem Bajwa (@AsimSBajwa) May 1, 2020
The first component following a virgin alignment was planned from Hakla near Islamabad from M-2 motorway to Yarik at border of KP and Balochistan. The second part of the corridor is 540 km Yarik-Zhob-Quetta National Highway to be upgraded to motorway standard, thus reducing distance from Islamabad to Quetta to only 830 kms and eight hours travel time on this new motorway standard four-lane expressway.
Experts say that the elaborate road network planned under CPEC will add life to Balochistan, allowing a network of modern cities to be constructed in the province. This will allow the people of the province avenues to sell goods and services, and will vastly extend the purchasing power and lifestyle of citizens living there.
Anadolu with additional input by GVS News Desk