KARACHI (Kashmir English): Karachi Traffic Police have announced plans to ban all types of regular rickshaws from the roads across the port city, with only meter-fitted rickshaws will be allowed to operate.
Speaking to the media at the Karachi Press Club, DIG Traffic Pir Muhammad Shah said that efforts have been made to improve traffic discipline and ease congestion on major roads.
He said traffic police have already taken steps to remove Qingqi rickshaws from major roads and will soon announce a deadline for rickshaw owners to install meters.
“We will give a date for installing meters in rickshaws. When the meters are installed, then lane management will also be implemented,” Shah said.
DIG Traffic further stated that the e-ticketing system, part of the Safe City project, along with lane markings, has helped improve traffic flow across Karachi.
Talking about complaints regarding e-challans, he said that e-challans are auto-generated and errors can occur, adding that a policy is being made to provide relief to people affected by incorrect e-challans.
He added that the number of e-challans issued during the previous year was lower than the number of manually issued traffic tickets.
The DIG further said that the police have recovered around 45,000 vehicles that were driven without being transferred into the current owners’ names.
He said vehicles with fake number plates were also seized, and several people were arrested and handed over to the police station.
Referring to road safety, Pir Muhammad Shah said 164 people lost their lives in traffic accidents involving heavy vehicles in Karachi last year, underscoring the need for stricter traffic management measures.
