SHC orders specifying three routes for heavy traffic in Karachi
Heavy vehicles will now be able to move on routes including Super Highway-New Karachi Industrial Area, National Highway-Jam Sadiq Bridge and Northern Bypass-Karachi Port
May 23, 2017
KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Tuesday ordered authorities concerned to specify three routes for the passage of heavy traffic through Karachi.
On March 31, the provincial government barred entry of heavy vehicles in Karachi from 6am to 11pm. The restriction was imposed on the orders of the SHC, which had observed that heavy traffic had been claiming more lives in the megapolis than terrorism.
The ban which lasted for over a month prompted a 10-day strike by goods transporters, which was eventually called off on May 17.
Issuing a written verdict in the heavy traffic case on Tuesday, the SHC allowed passage of heavy traffic from three routes in the megapolis.
Heavy vehicles, after implementation of the court orders, would be able to move on the routes from Super Highway to New Karachi Industrial Area, from National Highway to Jam Sadiq Bridge and from Northern Bypass to Karachi Port.
The SHC ordered the IG Sindh and DIG Traffic to make transportation of heavy vehicles possible on specified routes.
Water tankers, fuel-supplying and day-to-day goods delivery vehicles are exempted from the ban.
Meanwhile, the provincial government submitted its report on the implementation of court orders. The report stated that oil tankers in the city can be moved to Zulfikarabad oil terminal.
It said the Board of Revenue, Office of Member Land Utilisation and Sindh Home Department have been directed to send a joint summary of land for heavy traffic on entrances to the city.
The government, in its report, said that entry points would be made for heavy vehicles on entrances to the city.
Police and bomb disposal squad (BDS) would also be deployed on these points to thoroughly check all vehicles.
