KARACHI: The Sindh High Court on Thursday directed the chief secretary to file a detailed compliance report about implementation of an apex court order regarding movement of heavy traffic during daytime in Karachi.

A division bench headed by Justice Nadeem Akhtar heard DIG-Traffic Ahmed Nawaz Cheema and adjourned the hearing till Dec 22.

The DIG assured the bench that immediate steps would be taken to ensure that heavy vehicles could be completely restricted in all points of the city between 6am and 11pm in compliance with the order of the Supreme Court.

He submitted that the traffic police were taking all possible steps for implementation of court orders. However, he conceded that despite such efforts, heavy vehicles were plying in the city beyond the time allowed by the apex court.

The DIG further stated that there were several thoroughfares including M.T. Khan Road, Mai Kolachi Road, Shireen Jinnah Colony Road, Khyaban-i-Jami, Sunset Boulevard, National Highway, main roads in SITE, Korangi and Landhi industrial areas where heavy vehicles were permitted throughout the day and beyond the time specified in the order.

He stated that action to be taken against all delinquent officials of the traffic police in case of non-compliance of the court orders.

About action against use of pressure horns and fancy number plates, the DIG informed the court that he would submit a compliance report.

The lawyer for the petitioners submitted that heavy vehicles movement could be restricted by placing barriers check posts on the ports, industrial areas where vehicles could only be allowed to move during night timings for loading and unloading.

The Supreme Court had issued the order in August 2007 banning heavy traffic during the day hours.

Several petitions were filed in SHC between 2010 and 2022 about heavy vehicles and implementation of the Supreme Court order.

Some of the petitioners also moved the court against the relevant authorities over worsening situation of traffic in Karachi and seeking re-routing of heavy vehicles through non-residential areas as well as improvement in public transports.

The petitioners further asked the court to issue directives for the authorities to implement the apex court order about heavy traffic and improve public transport and introduce other alternatives to help commuters and reduce the burden on the existing transport.

Published in Dawn, December 9th, 2022