Sindh bans daytime entry of dumpers into Karachi city

KARACHI: The Sindh government has banned the entry of dumpers into the vicinity of Karachi city during the day, permitting their access only between 11pm and 6 am.

The decision was made during a traffic accident review meeting chaired by Sindh chief secretary on the directives of Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah. 

The decision was made in response to chronic traffic disruptions and a series of deadly road accidents caused by dumpers in Karachi.

Earlier in the day, a speeding dumper ran over a motorcycle carrying three young men, killing them on the spot.

The accident occurred near Ibrahim Hyderi in Korangi. Following the tragic incident, enraged citizens set the dumper on fire.

The bodies of the deceased were shifted to Jinnah Hospital. One of the deceased has been identified as 22-year-old Shaukat son of Mohammad Aslam.

According to the family of the deceased, Shaukat was a welder and was working at Korangi crossing and is a father of a son. The other two young men who were with him were guests from Bahawalpur, the family said.

The meeting, attended by inspector general of Sindh police, Karachi Commissioner, Additional IG Karachi, and other officials, made several key decisions.

It directed the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board to shift operations to night-time within three months. 

The meeting also approved a physical verification process for all heavy vehicles and drivers in the city while declaring that all vehicles operating in Karachi must obtain a transport department-issued QR code certification. 

Moreover, the chief secretary instructed the Water Board to inspect all tankers within a month.

Upon briefed by the traffic police that 65 per cent of vehicles in the city are motorcycles, the meeting ordered the police to intensify helmet enforcement for motorcyclists. 

Additionally, a public awareness campaign on traffic rules was also directed by the Information Department. 

Other key decisions included the launch of a Vehicle Inspection and Certification System (VICS) across Sindh and the strict implementation of traffic regulations. 

The chief secretary ordered the DIG Traffic to improve traffic conditions within a month and instructed that fines for traffic violations be increased fourfold.