Several of Balochistan's major highways have a night travel restriction, introduced by the provincial government in response to attacks on road traffic. In practice this means public transport, and often private vehicles, are expected off these roads between an evening cut-off and a morning restart, with the exact hours varying by route. Anyone driving through the province needs to build a trip around these windows rather than around it.
Why the ban exists
The restriction followed a rise in attacks targeting vehicles and passengers on Balochistan's highways, most of which have happened after dark. Provincial authorities imposed night travel limits district by district on the routes most affected, alongside increased checkpoints, vehicle tracking on buses and coaches, and joint patrols by police and the Frontier Corps. The measure has been extended and adjusted since it was first introduced, and it remains in force on the main routes through 2026.
Which highways are affected
| Highway | Route | Restricted district(s) |
|---|---|---|
| N-25 (RCD Highway) | Karachi–Quetta | Quetta district |
| N-10 (Makran Coastal Highway) | Karachi–Gwadar | Gwadar district |
| N-65 | Quetta–Sukkur | Kachhi district |
| N-50 | Quetta–Zhob–Dera Ismail Khan | Zhob district |
| N-40 | Quetta–Taftan | Noshki district |
| N-70 | Multan–Loralai | Musakhel district |
These are the highways most consistently named in official notifications. Restrictions can be extended to other routes or districts at short notice depending on the security situation, so check current notices for your specific route before travelling rather than relying on this list alone.
What the hours are
Most of the affected districts apply a 6pm to 6am restriction, meaning vehicles are expected to be off the highway by 6pm and travel does not resume until 6am. Two routes work differently:
- N-65 (Quetta–Sukkur) has a slightly earlier cut-off, from around 5pm to 5am.
- N-10 (Makran Coastal Highway) works on set departure windows rather than a simple curfew: vehicles are expected to leave Karachi or Quetta between roughly 5am and 10am, or leave Gwadar between 6am and 1pm, so that the whole journey is completed in daylight.
Hours can be adjusted by district administrations, particularly around specific security alerts, so treat these as the general pattern rather than a fixed rule for any given day.
How it is enforced
The ban is applied through checkpoints run jointly by police and the Frontier Corps at the entry and exit points of the restricted districts, where vehicles travelling outside the permitted hours are stopped and turned back or held until morning. Buses and coaches on the affected routes are fitted with GPS trackers and CCTV, which transport operators are required to keep functional, giving authorities a way to monitor departure times and confirm operators are keeping to the schedule. Officials have said the aim is to get all road traffic off these highways during the hours judged highest risk, rather than to stop travel altogether.
Exceptions and local variation
Government, security and emergency vehicles are generally exempt from the restriction, and some districts have made allowances for specific circumstances, such as medical emergencies. Beyond that, the ban has been applied and adjusted district by district rather than as one uniform provincial rule: an administration can tighten hours, extend the restriction to a new stretch of road, or lift it temporarily, usually in response to the current security assessment for that district. This is the main reason to check locally rather than assume the table above will hold exactly on the day you travel.
Planning a road trip around it
- Start early. Any long drive on a restricted highway needs to begin well before the evening cut-off, with a wide safety margin for traffic, checkpoints and stops.
- Build in a stop, not a push-through. If your journey can't be completed inside the daylight window, plan an overnight stop in a town with hotels rather than trying to beat the curfew.
- Expect checkpoints. Security checks with CNIC and vehicle document verification are routine on these highways, day and night on the roads that remain open, and add time to any journey. Keep your CNIC and vehicle papers accessible.
- Check locally the day before. Bans, hours and affected sections have shifted over time and can be tightened quickly after an incident. A local transport operator, hotel, or recent local news report is more reliable than an old date on a government notice.
- Public transport follows the same rule. Bus and coach operators on these routes plan their departures around the ban, so if you're travelling by bus rather than car, the timetable will already reflect it.
What this means for buses and hired transport
If you're travelling by intercity bus or coach rather than a private car, the restriction is already built into the timetable: operators on the N-25, N-10 and the other affected routes schedule departures to comply with the ban, so a ticket you buy for one of these routes will already reflect a daytime arrival or an overnight stop somewhere along the way. The same applies to hired cars and drivers arranged through hotels or tour operators in Quetta, Gwadar or Karachi, who plan routes and departure times around the current restrictions as a matter of course. Where this matters most is for anyone driving their own vehicle without local guidance, since it's easy to underestimate how much a mid-afternoon checkpoint delay or an unplanned stop can push a journey past the cut-off.
How this affects specific trips
Anyone driving the coastal route to see the best beaches in Balochistan, including Kund Malir inside Hingol National Park, needs to time the Makran Coastal Highway departure windows into the day, which usually means an early start from Karachi. The same applies to the RCD Highway route toward Quetta and on to the interior, covered in our broader guide on whether it is safe to travel in Balochistan: the night ban is one part of a wider pattern of daytime-only travel on the province's main roads.
Frequently asked questions
What time does the Balochistan night travel ban start and end?
Most restricted districts apply a 6pm to 6am ban. The Quetta–Sukkur highway (N-65) starts slightly earlier, around 5pm, and the Makran Coastal Highway works on set daytime departure windows rather than a simple curfew.
Which highways in Balochistan have a night travel ban?
The RCD Highway (N-25) through Quetta district, the Makran Coastal Highway (N-10) through Gwadar district, the Quetta–Sukkur highway (N-65) through Kachhi district, and routes through Zhob, Noshki and Musakhel districts are the ones most consistently restricted.
Does the night travel ban apply to private cars or only buses?
Notifications have focused on public transport, but private vehicles are also expected to observe the restriction on the affected sections, since the security risk applies to all road traffic after dark, not only commercial vehicles.
Why did Balochistan introduce a night travel ban?
To reduce the risk from attacks on highway traffic, most of which have happened at night. The ban is paired with increased checkpoints and vehicle tracking on public transport.
How do I check if the ban is still in force before my trip?
Check recent local news for your specific route, or ask a local transport operator or hotel close to your travel date. Restrictions have been extended and adjusted through 2026, so don't rely on an old date or a fixed rule.
Is Balochistan safe for overseas visitors?
Pakistani travellers do visit, but as of September 2026 the UK government advises against all travel to Balochistan. If you hold a foreign passport, check your own government's advice before you go, because travelling against it can void your insurance. Everyone should check local news and current police advice before setting out.