In a recent meeting addressing traffic issues in Karachi, caretaker Sindh Chief Minister Justice Maqbool Baqar discovered a critical problem – over half of the city’s traffic signals were malfunctioning. This issue compounds challenges in a city with a vast road network spanning 9,500 kilometers and a vehicle count exceeding 6.5 million, including 4.05 million motorbikes.
To mitigate these challenges, the meeting pinpointed 11 traffic bottlenecks, proposing solutions such as road widening and restrictions on heavy daytime traffic. Mayor Murtaza Wahab emphasized essential projects like the Mauripur Expressway and the redesign of the Lyari Expressway to alleviate congestion.
Notably, the chief minister took steps to address environmental concerns by activating the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) to impound smoke-emitting vehicles. Furthermore, he stressed the importance of releasing funds for rewarding traffic policemen who diligently issued 1.62 million tickets for traffic law violations, resulting in the recovery of Rs836.012 million.
In summary, the meeting highlighted the urgent need for comprehensive measures, including infrastructure projects, environmental controls, and recognition of law enforcement efforts, to effectively tackle Karachi’s persistent traffic challenges.
