QUETTA: The district authorities in Kalat and Khuzdar have directed traders and the business community to close shops in the evening and advised residents to remain indoors at night due to security concerns.

Political and business lea­­ders in both cities of Ba­­lochistan confirmed the de­­velopment, saying the measures effectively amo­unt to a night-time curfew. They warned that the rest­rictions would create difficulties for the general public.

Government officials, however, maintained that no formal curfew has been imposed. They described the measures as a precautionary night-time lockdown implemented becau­­se of security concerns.

Balochistan Home Minis­­ter Mir Ziaullah Langove said no notification had been issued imposing a curfew in any city of the province.

Hafiz Qasim Lehri, a me­­mber of the central gen­­eral council of JUI-F, said traders had been asked to shut their shops at 6pm, while residents were inst­ructed to remain indoors from 10pm to 7am. “In practical terms, a night curfew has been imposed in Kalat,” he said.

Qadir Bakhsh Mengal, a BNP leader, said the entry and exit routes to Kalat had also been closed.

In Khuzdar, a senior tra­der said officials from the administration and police had visited the city and ins­tructed shopkeepers to clo­se their businesses. He said the authorities cited se­­curi­­ty threats, explaining that the rest­r­i­ctions were inten­ded to prevent civilian casualties in the event of an emergency operation.

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2026