KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has ordered immediate action to address severe traffic congestion in the port area, following the reopening of Baber Loi Road. This comes after an 11-day closure that had paralyzed cargo movements from upcountry, leading to a significant traffic backlog upon resumption.

In a statement issued on Saturday from the Chief Minister’s House, Mr. Shah highlighted the economic impact and inconvenience caused by recurring traffic congestion, particularly during the berthing of multiple ships at the China Port, known as SAPT.

To tackle the current gridlock and prevent future incidents, the Chief Minister has mandated the establishment of a 24/7 Traffic Monitoring Cell near the port. Additional measures include implementing staggered entry timings for cargo vehicles, creating temporary parking zones, and holding daily coordination meetings between port authorities, police, and logistics companies.

Further strategies involve identifying and utilizing alternate routes to divert overflow traffic, deploying a digital slot booking system for cargo dispatch and arrival, and deploying mobile response teams to clear any bottlenecks. Continuous public communication through media updates and traffic alerts is also emphasized.

Mr. Shah has called for swift and collaborative action from all relevant departments to ensure the smooth operation of traffic and facilitate trade activities at the port.