Sindh moves to enforce stricter traffic laws
Cameras will also be installed at various points inside these vehicles to monitor their movement, surrounding road conditions, and unsafe driving behaviour. The tracking systems and monitoring devices installed in every LTV (Light Transport Vehicle) and HTV (Heavy Transport Vehicle) will be accessible to the traffic police.
The Sindh Assembly has already passed the Provincial Motor Vehicle Amendment Bill 2025 in its last session. Based on that legislation, the Transport Department is now working to amend the Motor Vehicle Rules 1969. As part of the formal process, the public has been given 15 days to submit objections before the amendments are finalised.
According to the proposed changes, heavy fines will be imposed on all water tankers, dumpers, and other goods transport vehicles operating in Karachi without a valid fitness certificate. Commercial vehicles older than 20 years will not be allowed to enter the province via inter-provincial routes. Similarly, vehicles over 25 years old will be banned from operating on intra-city routes within the province. Vehicles found violating these rules may be seized, and their registration may be temporarily suspended.
The Sindh government has been under public and political pressure due to frequent accidents involving heavy vehicles in Karachi. Unofficial data suggests that over 500 lives have been lost in road accidents in the city this year alone.
As a result, the government has been compelled to tighten traffic laws. However, a major issue remains the poor enforcement of these laws.
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Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Express Tribune
Sindh moves to enforce stricter traffic laws
The Sindh Transport Department has formally initiated the process to amend the Motor Vehicle Rules 1969 in an effort to curb road accidents and traffic violations across the province, including Karachi. Under the proposed amendments, all passenger and goods transport vehicles operating in Sindh will be required to install tracking systems. Cameras will also be installed at various points inside these vehicles to monitor their movement, surrounding road conditions, and unsafe driving behaviour. The tracking systems and monitoring devices installed in every LTV (Light Transport Vehicle) and HTV (Heavy Transport Vehicle) will be accessible to the traffic police. The Sindh Assembly has already passed the Provincial Motor Vehicle Amendment Bill 2025 in its last session. Based on that legislation, the Transport Department is now working to amend the Motor Vehicle Rules 1969. As part of the formal process, the public has been given 15 days to submit objections before the amendments are finalised. According to the proposed changes, heavy fines will be imposed on all water tankers, dumpers, and other goods transport vehicles operating in Karachi without a valid fitness certificate. Commercial vehicles older than 20 years will not be allowed to enter the province via inter-provincial routes. Similarly, vehicles over 25 years old will be banned from operating on intra-city routes within the province. Vehicles found violating these rules may be seized, and their registration may be temporarily suspended. The Sindh government has been under public and political pressure due to frequent accidents involving heavy vehicles in Karachi. Unofficial data suggests that over 500 lives have been lost in road accidents in the city this year alone. As a result, the government has been compelled to tighten traffic laws. However, a major issue remains the poor enforcement of these laws.
Express Tribune
07-08-2025
- Express Tribune
Sindh approves reforms for education, transport
CM Murad Ali Shah speaks in the Sindh Assembly as the debate on the provincial budget concluded on Monday. Photo: Express Listen to article The Sindh cabinet on Thursday approved a string of key policy measures and development initiatives aimed at improving administrative efficiency, reforming education governance, ensuring road safety, and preserving the province's heritage. The cabinet meeting, presided over by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, granted in-principle approval to the Excise and Taxation Department's proposal for launching a new vehicle registration system linked to Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs). Under the proposed model, personalised registration numbers will be assigned to vehicle owners rather than chassis numbers, allowing owners to retain their number plates even after selling their vehicles. Officials said the initiative, which aligns with international practices, would enhance tracking, facilitate tax compliance, and improve vehicle ownership records. The cabinet also approved the necessary legal amendments to implement the CNIC-based registration framework and directed the department to launch a pilot project before rolling it out across the province. Read More: Sindh govt moves to clip powers of education boards The cabinet also approved the establishment of vehicle fitness centres for commercial vehicles across the province. The centres will be set up by Wah Industries Limited, with the first phase covering Karachi, Hyderabad and Sukkur. More centres will be established in other districts in subsequent phases. Legal amendments will be introduced to make fitness certification mandatory for commercial vehicles, while private vehicles will not be subject to the same requirement. The cabinet also gave nod of approval for a procedural mechanism for registering government vehicles with modified chassis or confiscated units, allowing federal and provincial agencies to register such vehicles under designated series. A committee headed by the excise minister will finalise the legal framework. The cabinet sanctioned a fresh resurvey of 3,371 historical buildings across the province, many of which are said to be in poor condition. An amount of Rs20 million has been allocated for the initiative. Expert committees will be formed to assess the status of each site and recommend necessary restoration and conservation measures. Also Read: IBA Sukkur to conduct MDCAT in Sindh The cabinet also okayed an amendment to the rules governing educational boards, allowing officers of BS-19 and BS-20 to be appointed as chairpersons. Earlier, only BS-21 officers were eligible for the position. The move aims to ease recruitment bottlenecks and improve administrative efficiency in the education sector. The provincial cabinet gave its nod to a new policy concerning the Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Test (MDCAT), reassigning the responsibility of conducting the exam to Sukkur IBA University under the provisions of the PMDC Act, 2022. According to the new rules, candidates will be required to furnish Sindh domicile, juvenile card or biometric verification to appear for the test. Entry and merit criteria will be strictly in line with the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) regulations. Officials said the decision to reassign the MDCAT to Sukkur IBA was taken in view of the need for standardisation and administrative continuity.
Express Tribune
01-06-2025
- Express Tribune
Emissions certification misses the mark
Lahore, which battles severe smog each fall season, is once again initiating measures to curb environmental pollution by conducting emissions testing and certification of four-wheel vehicles. Critics, however, have argued that the project overlooks the role of key polluters in instigating air pollution. Under a pilot project, vehicles in Lahore are undergoing emissions testing after which they receive a green sticker with a QR code on their windshield, confirming that they meet environmental emission standards. However, this testing is currently limited to four-wheeled vehicles, excluding motorcycles and rickshaws, which significantly contribute to pollution. As per statistics obtained from the Punjab Excise Department, the province has 20 million registered motorcycles and 5 million four-wheeled vehicles, with Lahore alone accounting for 5.2 million motorcycles and 1.3 million four-wheeled vehicles. According to Secretary of Environment Raja Jahanzaib Anwar, the current emissions testing initiative falls under the Vehicle Inspection and Certification System (VIC). 'A decade ago, the Punjab government had established 32 VIC stations across the province through a public-private partnership (PPP). These stations evaluated nine key parameters, including smoke emissions and overall vehicle fitness. However, with the rapid increase in the number of vehicles, the VIC system became overwhelmed. To ease the burden on the Transport Department, the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) has taken over the responsibility for emissions testing, with nine dedicated stations across Lahore, offering free services to the public. This complimentary testing facility will remain available until June 30th,' claimed Anwar. According to the Environment Department, vehicles that exceed permissible emission limits are denied certification and instructed to undergo necessary repairs. This system is expected to be fully operational before the upcoming smog season. Vehicles without certification will face restricted movement and may be subject to substantial fines. Despite the well-intended plan devised by the EPA, key stakeholders in the automotive industry are not too optimistic about the success of the pilot project. Suneel Sarfraz Munj, Chairman of Pak Wheels—a leading vehicle marketplace—highlighted the fact that 60 per cent of road traffic in Pakistan consisted of two- and three-wheelers, which were among the biggest contributors to vehicular smoke emissions. 'Apart from this, we have to focus on improving our petrol and diesel quality. Until fuel quality improves, vehicle certification will not be beneficial. As an analogy, using poor fuel in clean vehicles is as futile as serving bad food in clean dishes,' explained Munj. On the other hand, Dawar Hamid Butt, Coordinator of the Pakistan Air Quality Experts Group, considered this initiative a promising pilot project. "I hope this initiative will deliver positive results and pave the way for broader efforts to protect large cities like Lahore from worsening air quality,' he added. Where some environmental experts welcomed the emissions testing initiative as a positive step toward tackling air pollution, environmental lawyer Rafi Alam underscored the importance of expanding testing to include motorcycles, rickshaws, and loader vehicles, which are major contributors to smoke and harmful emissions. Furthermore, many experts have opined that during emissions testing and certification, it was crucial to consider the engine quality, which should be at least Euro III since engines with lower standards emitted more pollutants. Apparently, engines with Euro II or lower standards, such as two-stroke rickshaws, old motorcycles, and vehicles over 25 years old, emit hazardous gases like nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons, and particulate matter. In contrast, vehicles with modern engines significantly reduce emissions. Hence, experts have urged the government to make the use of Euro V fuel and engines mandatory.
