Karachi’s killer roads claim 138 lives this year

The mega city of Karachi witnessed a tragic and alarming surge in road accidents in February 2025, claiming the lives of 73 people—including eight women and five children.

In addition, over 700 individuals sustained serious injuries, among them more than 90 women. This disturbing trend has continued into the year, with cumulative figures up to April 10 showing that 138 people have lost their lives—including 16 women and 14 children—while more than 1,500 have been injured, including over 160 women.

According to officials at the Edhi Information Bureau, these numbers only account for serious injuries reported at some leading tertiary-care health facilities. In reality, more than 500 people—mostly motorcyclists—are rushed daily to public and private health facilities across the city with broken bones and other injuries sustained in traffic accidents on Karachi’s increasingly killer roads.

In February alone, the city averaged 2.5 fatalities and 25 injuries per day, underscoring the growing crisis caused by careless drivers, unchecked movement of massive dumpers, and poor traffic enforcement. What’s urgently needed is a comprehensive traffic reform plan, strict implementation of existing laws, and civic engagement initiatives to reduce ethnic tensions and promote road safety.