DERA GHAZI KHAN: In a bid to curb the rising incidents of motorcycle thefts and armed snatching, the Dera Ghazi Khan police are set to meet officials from Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) police.

According to sources, the meeting will address the trafficking of stolen motorcycles from Dera Ghazi Khan to neighbouring regions.

Sources said stolen motorbikes were transported and sold in the areas like Musakhel and Barkhan in Balochistan and Dera Ismail Khan in KP.

Temporary markets in locations like Karkana reportedly facilitate these illegal sales, raising concerns over potential use of the vehicles in criminal activities.

District Police Officer Syed Ali confirmed that a preliminary meeting will take place between sub-divisional police officers from Dera Ghazi Khan and counterparts from Barkhan, Musa Khail and Dera Ismail Khan. This will pave the way for a larger meeting among senior police officials to devise a joint strategy aimed at curbing the cross-border trafficking of stolen vehicles.

UNFIT VEHCILES: The deteriorating condition of public transport on the roads of Dera Ghazi Khan has raised serious safety concerns, with numerous accidents attributed to the questionable fitness of these vehicles. From rickshaws to heavy-duty trucks, many vehicles operate without proper maintenance, compromising road safety and endangering lives.

The traffic police are not performing their duty properly, as they have not installed speed check guns on frequently used routes such as Dera-Quetta Road, Dera-Multan Road, Jampur Road and Taunsa Road. This negligence has resulted in daily road accidents and the loss of precious human lives.

The traffic police have also failed to provide safe crossings for commuters at dangerous points in and out of the city, such as Model Town Gaddai Road Chowk on Dera-Quetta Road, and Pul Daat, where heavy traffic passes at high speeds. Despite the clear requirements under the Punjab Motor Vehicle Ordinance of 1965 and Motor Vehicle Rules of 1969, which mandate a fitness certificate for all public service vehicles registered in Punjab, the lack of enforcement in Dera Ghazi Khan has allowed unfit vehicles to continue running unchecked.

According to the ordinance, all commercial vehicles—whether light-duty, heavy-duty, or rickshaws—must undergo fitness testing every six months. However, routine checks remain irregular, and unfit vehicles are a common sight on the city’s roads, posing a risk to human lives and contributing to the worsening smog issue. Smog, exacerbated by emissions from these unfit vehicles, is becoming a seasonal hazard, impacting the health of residents and reducing visibility on the roads, which increases the risk of accidents.

To address this, the Punjab government has established Vehicle Inspection and Certification System (VICS) centres in various cities, including Dera Ghazi Khan. However, the VICS centre in Dera Ghazi Khan is inactive.

Civil society in Dera Ghazi Khan is calling on the RTA secretary, the minister of transport authority, deputy commissioner, and the commissioner to launch an urgent campaign to enforce vehicle fitness checks.

Published in Dawn, November 14th, 2024