Karachi, In a decisive move to tackle traffic congestion and illegal parking in Karachi, Caretaker Sindh Chief Minister Justice (Retd) Maqbool Baqar, in a high-level meeting, has directed a comprehensive crackdown on these issues. The Chief Minister emphasized the need for collaboration among various agencies to address the city’s traffic problems.
According to Chief Minister Sindh, the meeting, attended by key officials including Minister Home Brig (r) Haris Nawaz, Minister Tourism and Environment Arshad Wali Mohammad, and Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab, focused on various traffic-related challenges in Karachi. DIG Traffic Iqbal Dara briefed the Chief Minister on the city’s traffic police strength and congestion issues.
The Chief Minister was informed about the shortfall in traffic police personnel, with only 6699 of the required 9077 officers in place. Karachi’s extensive network of 9500 km roads, handling around 6.5 million vehicles, including over 4 million motorcycles, contributes to the traffic challenges. The city registers approximately 350,000 new vehicles annually, and around 65,000 extra seat rickshaws operate illegally.
In 2023, around 1.62 million traffic violation tickets were issued, resulting in fines of Rs836.12 million. The introduction of mass transit systems like the Green and Orange lines is expected to alleviate some traffic issues. However, delays in projects like the redline corridor on University Road exacerbate traffic jams.
The Chief Minister was apprised of the daytime movement restrictions for heavy traffic in the city and the need for implementing Section 144 Cr.P.C. Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab suggested that the Lyari Expressway, designed for heavy traffic, could be utilized to ease congestion. A committee under his leadership was formed to resolve issues related to the Expressway’s use for heavy traffic.
The meeting identified 11 bottlenecks in the city’s traffic flow. Mayor Karachi was directed to personally inspect these sites and address the issues. Encroachments were recognized as another factor contributing to congestion, prompting the Chief Minister to instruct Commissioner Karachi Saleem Rajput to remove them.
The Chief Minister also discussed the formation of the Karachi Road Transport Authority (KRTA) along the lines of RTA Dubai to manage and improve road infrastructure. This authority would be responsible for maintenance, traffic-related infrastructure, charged parking spaces, and allotment of advertisement sites.
IG Police highlighted the need for funds to reward traffic policemen and purchase machinery. The Chief Minister directed the finance department to release the necessary funds. He also instructed Environment Minister Arshad Wali Mohammad to work with SEPA to impound smoke-emitting vehicles.
The Chief Minister further addressed the issue of unregulated parking areas, directing civic agencies to consult traffic police before designating charged parking areas. Additionally, the functioning of traffic signals in the city was reviewed, with only 30 of the 91 signals operational. The Chief Minister ordered immediate repairs and suggestions for additional signals if needed.
Finally, DIG Driving License Irfan Baloch briefed on the driving license issuance process, highlighting measures to eradicate malpractices and ensure transparency in the system.