At a recent event in Karachi, Additional Inspector General of Police (AIG) Javed Alam Odho shared that traffic fines in the city have contributed over Rs1 billion to government revenue.
Addressing attendees on Thursday, AIG Odho acknowledged the persistent traffic challenges in Karachi but emphasised that managing these issues effectively requires the collaboration of various institutions.
He noted that ongoing infrastructure projects frequently exacerbate the city’s traffic woes, underscoring the need for the Transport Department to play a proactive role in alleviating congestion.
Odho also stressed the importance of holding the responsible parties accountable in traffic accidents to ensure that legal measures are properly enforced.
In discussing the responsibilities of the traffic police, Odho clarified that the installation of traffic signals falls outside their jurisdiction. However, he highlighted the traffic police’s efforts, noting that more than 500,000 vehicles were confiscated in the past year, which has led to a noticeable improvement in traffic flow.
Meanwhile, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Traffic Pir Muhammad Shah raised concerns over the illegal use of pressure horns, fancy number plates, and other unauthorised vehicle modifications.
He revealed that operations are underway to clamp down on the sale of these prohibited items, with more than 27,000 items, including illegal number plates and horns, slated for confiscation and destruction.
Shah also announced the formation of a new Karachi Accident Analysis Team, comprising 10 members, which will investigate the causes of traffic accidents.
This specialised team will focus on gathering data and identifying trends in road incidents to improve safety measures. He further emphasised that motorcyclists remain the most vulnerable group, accounting for a significant number of fatal accidents in the city.
In response to this growing concern, Shah revealed plans to introduce a traffic safety app, designed to provide real-time updates on accidents and enhance road safety across Karachi.
