QUETTA: Almost all highways linking northern Balochistan with other parts of the country and Afghanistan have been opened for traffic after the removal of snow.

Transit trade and other supplies between Pakistan and Afghanistan — suspended due to heavy snowfall at Khojak Pass between Shela Bagh and Chaman — have also been restored.

Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo took an aerial view of the snow-hit areas of Ziarat, Qila Saifullah, Sanjavi, Kan Mehtarzai and Muslim Bagh.

Chief Secretary Mathar Niaz Rana also visited the area and briefed the chief minister about the rescue and relief activities carried out by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority, civil administration, army, Frontier Corps (FC) and Levies in the affected areas. He said traffic on all blocked highways and roads had been restored in northern Balochistan.

Relief and rescue operations still under way in some areas

Mr Bizenjo expressed satisfaction over the relief and rescue operations and the opening of roads.

Many areas of northern Balochistan were cut off from Quetta as vehicular traffic was suspended on highways blocked due to heavy rain and snowfall that started lashing the region on Thursday evening.

Highways linking Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa were also opened after the cleaning of snow. People stuck in different areas of northern Balochistan were also rescued and shifted to safe places.

Rescue operations are still under way in Qila Saifullah, while Quetta-Ziarat and Ziarat-Sanjavi highways have been partially restored for transportation.

Officials said that roads adjacent to Quaid-i-Azam Residency and Chief Minister House had been cleared of snow and opened for traffic while snow was being removed from Zero Point and Khandi Sar areas on an emergency basis.

A small number of tourists are heading towards Ziarat but most of the vehicles are leaving the city and heading towards Quetta and interior Balochistan.

Relief efforts continue

Meanwhile, the army, Frontier Corps, Pakistan Coast Guards, civil administration, and the national and provincial disaster management authorities shifted hundreds of people to safe places after rescuing them from the most affected areas of Gwadar District, including Kulanch Valley, Sardasht valley, Kapar village, Goristani village and the Suntsar sector.

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations, Zahran, Pashukan and Gwadar Old Town villages had been severely affected after heavy rains and a vast area hand come under flash floods.

The army and FC have set up free medical camps in the affected areas, damaged tracks in remote areas are being repaired and stranded tourists are being evacuated. Drinking water is also being distributed among the locals.

Published in Dawn, January 10th, 2022