Business groups demand probe into Lakpass Customs warehouse fire

Business and transport leaders in Balochistan on Thursday demanded a high-level investigation into the massive fire that destroyed the Lakpass Customs post warehouse near Quetta earlier this week, alleging the incident may have been deliberately orchestrated to cover up theft.

Speaking at a joint press conference in Quetta, trade representatives claimed the business community had suffered losses of at least Rs9 billion due to the fire, which engulfed the warehouse in Mastung district’s Luk Pass area on Sunday and injured at least 43 people.

Central Anjuman-i-Tajran President Abdul Rahim Kakar said the fire “could not be accidental” and alleged it was staged under a conspiracy to hide the theft of seized goods stored at the facility. He called for an FIR to be registered against those responsible and demanded immediate compensation for affected traders.

Other business leaders, including Mir Nawab Mengal, chairman of the All Pakistan Mazda Truck Goods Transport Association, and Haji Malik Shah Jamaldini, president of the All Quetta-Taftan-Rakhshan Division Bus Union, also questioned the circumstances surrounding the blaze. They alleged that valuable goods may have been removed from the warehouse before the fire broke out.

Authorities have not commented on the allegations so far. Rescue officials earlier said the fire intensified due to the presence of LPG cylinders, fuel reserves and hazardous chemicals inside the warehouse.