Sindh Senior Minister for Transport and Information Sharjeel Inaam Memon on Friday held a meeting with Home Minister Ziaul Hasan Lanjar and Excise Minister Mukesh Kumar Chawla where they discussed issues related to the transport sector, including the relaxation given to the heavy vehicles by extending the time of their movement in the city as they can start playing the roads at 10pm instead of 11pm.
Officials said a delegation comprising various transport associations in Karachi also attended the meeting to find solutions to the challenges faced by the city's transport sector. The meeting was attended by Excise and Taxation Secretary Muhammad Saleem Rajput, Transport Secretary Asad Zamin, Karachi Commissioner Hassan Naqvi, Karachi Additional IG Javed Alam Odho, traffic DIG and other key officials. The transporters’ delegation included Liaquat Mehsud, Haji Maqsood Mehsud, Haji Yousuf, Haji Khairul Zaman Mehsud, Tariq Gujar, Haji Badshah Khan Mehsud, Malik Yaseen Niazi, Jan Alam Mehsud, Haji Umar Daraz Bajauri, Abdul Hameed Bangash, Haji Toor Khan, Sardar Salamat, Kafeel Khan and others.
The transporters apprised the provincial ministers about their concerns regarding restrictions on entry during the specific hours. Memon informed the participants that the government had decided to extend the entry window by one hour. He announced that heavy vehicles would now be allowed to enter the city between 10pm and 6am, providing them with greater operational flexibility.
He stated that the Sindh government understood the transporters' issues and was determined to help them overcome these issues. He further stated that the extension of entry times was a small measure towards easing the burden on transporters and facilitating ease of business for them. He reiterated that all heavy vehicles used for transportation must obtain registration and fitness certificates.
Memon also underlined the importance of ensuring that all transporters, even from other provinces, had their vehicles registered in Sindh. The home minister warned the transporters not to commit acts of disturbing the traffic. He said any action resulting in public inconvenience would be dealt with sternly.
He emphasised the need for collective efforts for improving Karachi and declared that anything disrupting public life, such as hindering traffic, would be unacceptable. He also urged the transporters to avoid politicising these issues stating that they had no political relevance.
The transporters’ leaders appreciated the government’s efforts to address their concerns and expressed the hope that the extended entry hours would help alleviate their logistical challenges. They assured the provincial ministers of their support for the government’s decision regarding the vehicle registration and fitness certification.