Syed Ali Shah, Manan Mandokhail:
QUETTA: Airfares from Quetta to Karachi skyrocketed to Rs. 70,000 on Friday as protests blocked key highways, leaving thousands of passengers stranded.
Angry demonstrators blocked the Karachi Highway in Sorab, Kalat district, demanding the recovery of a missing person. The protest caused massive disruptions, particularly for women, children, elderly passengers, and patients traveling between Quetta and Karachi.
“I just bought my ticket for Rs. 62,000—it’s unaffordable,” said Saber Baloch, a senior citizen forced to fly due to road closures.
Similar protests erupted in Dera Murad Jamali, where truck drivers blocked the highway, further worsening travel conditions. “I’ve been stuck here for hours with my family. No food, no water—it’s unbearable,” said Ahmed Jan, a stranded passenger.
Authorities later negotiated with protesting truckers to reopen the Sindh-Balochistan highway, but repeated roadblocks have led to soaring airfare prices.
“People are borrowing money just to buy tickets,” said Syed Saifullah, a travel agent, highlighting the desperate situation.
With protests continuing and road closures persisting, air travel remains the only option—but at an exorbitant cost for ordinary citizens.
