Karachi roads turn deadly amid surging traffic accidents

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KARACHI: The Sindh government has imposed sanctions on the entry of dumpers in Karachi in the midst of an increase in fatal accidents containing heavy vehicles and increasing traffic crowds.

Under the new directive, dumpers will only be allowed to work between 11am to 6pm, and will effectively stop them from city roads during peak hours in an attempt to prevent accidents and increase road safety. –

However, this ban is not a new move. Over the years, several reports were released, limiting the movement of heavy vehicles early in the morning. Nevertheless, legal flaws and ongoing infrastructure projects have been often used to justify their permanent presence in the city throughout the day.

Infrastructure projects, such as cement, sand and gravel, have long been accessed by dumpers, such as cement, sand and gravel.

Despite these limits, the number of dumpers working in Karachi has increased significantly, which has led to increased traffic accidents. Areas like Malir and Korangi become hot spots for such incidents, with repeated accidents on the National Highway, Super Highway, and major city roads such as Sohrab Goth and Hub Road.

A dangerous increase in road deaths has forced authorities to take action. In the last two months, 96 people have been killed in traffic accidents in Karachi, 72 deaths in urban areas and 24 in suburbs. Of these, eight people lost their lives in four separate dumper accidents.

In response, Sindh Chief Secretary Syed Asif Haider Shah presided over a high -level meeting to address traffic security concerns.

It was decided that all vehicles operating in Karachi would have to get a QR code certificate from the Transport Department. Heavy vehicles and their drivers will undergo physical verification to ensure compliance with safety standards. In addition, the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board has been instructed to move its work into three months at night.

Also, Karachi Water and Sewerage Board tankers will be inspected within a month to comply with the safety. It has been suggested to prevent violations of a four -fold increase in traffic penalties and increase road discipline, and careless drivers will face fines as well as FIRS to ensure accountability.

Although water tankers play an important role in the water supply to Karachi, concerns about their unlimited movement have been raised. These tankers run 24/7, yet hydrants do not work for 24 hours. Nominated operating times are needed to organize tanker movements and prevent them from being involved in traffic crowds and accidents.

Another important factor in Karachi’s traffic problems is a significant increase in motorcycles and sparkling rickshaws. Karachi has more than 4.3 million motorcycles, with more than 100,000 new registrations annually.

The lack of viable public transport system has forced citizens to rely on motorcycles, causing roads and repeated accidents. 55 % of all road accidents in Karachi include motorcyclists. The absence of proper public transport has led to the spread of Chung Qi Rickshaw, which works without any regulation, and traffic problems are further increased.

Despite the presence of a Traffic Engineering Bureau under the Karachi Development Authority (KDA), road planning is rarely implemented.

While Lahore has introduced dedicated motorcycle lanes, efforts to implement a similar move in Karachi continued for only a week. Experts say that a permanent awareness campaign in partnership with non -governmental organizations and the media is essential to promoting traffic discipline among citizens.

Development of an effective public transport system is very important to reduce dependence on motorcycles and spinning rickshaws. Heavy vehicles have to enforce strict rules, including maintaining a database of dumpers and their drivers.

Permanent traffic awareness campaigns should be implemented to inform citizens of road safety. To ensure the effectiveness of these measures, transparency in the development of road planning and infrastructure is essential.