Karachi
The Deputy Inspector General of Police Traffic has called an emergency meeting with the respective SSPs, DSPs, SOs and enforcement officers on Sunday, August 16, at the Saleem Vadidy Auditorium Licence Branch Clifton.
In a statement, Dr Amir Ahmed Shaikh, called for an emergency meeting to prepare strategy on the crackdown of CNG run school vans and buses, along with their recommandations for punishment to the errant drivers through Traffic Judicial Magistrates and disposal of Qingqi three wheeler rickshaws .
He also also sought proposals for bringing a better traffic system in the metropolis.
News Desk adds: The Sindh transport department had issued a notification on August 7 to ban the use of CNG and LPG cylinders in vehicles used by educational institutions and transporters of school children.
Two days ago, DIG Traffic Karachi Amir Ahmed Shaikh had requested the Transport secretary to issue a notification to ban CNG and LPG cylinders in school vans.
Talking to The news, DIG Traffic said they had given time to vehicle owners and school, college and university administrations for removing CNG and LPG kits and changing the colour of transport vehicles as prescribed by the provincial transport department.
He said a campaign in this regard will begin on August 21 and there will be no leniency for anyone found violating the rules. He said the vehicle will be impounded and a case will be lodged against the owner/driver at the police station concerned.
He said the licenses of schools administrations will be cancelled if they use vehicles with CNG or LPG kits.
Moreover, the directions also include a standard operating procedure for drivers of the vehicles and they will not be allowed to stop at any gas station with children on onboard.
The notification issued by the Sindh transport and mass transit department on Friday states: “In partial modification of this department’s notification dated May 8, 2015, after
the letter ‘CNG’ wherever appearing, the letters ‘LPG’ and after the words ‘public service vehicles’ wherever appearing, the words ‘school and college vehicles’ are hereby added with immediate effect”.
Meanwhile, another notification issued makes a few amendments in the Motor Vehicle Rules, 1969.
From now on, the transport vehicle of colleges and schools and contract carriages will be yellow coloured to distinguish them from vehicles plying on the road. The vehicles are also supposed to have an attendant for the facilitation and safety of students, an emergency exit. It has been made mandatory for buses and vans to carry fire extinguishers.