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Karachi: The Sindh government, in an effort to address the alarming surge in road accidents involving heavy transport vehicles, has implemented a set of stringent measures, including the enforcement of a 30-kilometer-per-hour speed limit for heavy vehicles and the mandatory drug testing of drivers.
These decisions were made during a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah. The meeting was attended by key officials, including provincial ministers Saeed Ghani, Mukesh Kumar Chawla, Zia Lanjhar, Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, and senior officers from the traffic and district police.
The primary objective of this initiative was to mitigate accidents that occurred on Karachi’s roadway network that involved dumper trucks and other large vehicles.
Traffic violations exceeded 1.6 million cases in 2024, according to statistics from IG Sindh, and the total fine collection amounted to Rs 1.33 billion. Authorities arrested 11,287 drivers, registered 650 FIRs, and revoked 7,555 vehicle fitness certificates during this operation, during which over 512,000 vehicles were subjected to enforcement measures.
Chief Minister Shah directed officials to conduct thorough inspections of heavy vehicle operators and to enforce the installation of both monitors and dash cams for large vehicles. The Transport Department should authorize specific vehicles, including those that have previously lost their fitness certificates, in order to regulate vehicle operations.
In order to ensure the successful implementation of these measures, Chief Minister Shah issued an order to consolidate numerous government departments, including the Transport Department, Excise Department, Licensing Authority, Traffic Police, and NADRA. These departments will collaborate to ensure that traffic regulations are enforced effectively.
The Traffic Engineering Bureau’s authority will be transferred to the Mayor of Karachi as a result of the reorganization. CM Murad Ali Shah’s most recent pronouncements included the implementation of a mandatory driver training program that adhered to international standards.
Cracking down on unsafe motorcycling practices, the government will take strict action against individuals riding without helmets and those engaging in triple riding.
“These measures are necessary to protect lives and bring order to the city’s roads,” Shah stated, urging both traffic and district police to work collaboratively to ensure road safety.
The decisions have been put into effect immediately as part of the government’s broader initiative to reduce accidents and enhance traffic discipline in Karachi.
