CM orders immediate steps to ease traffic congestion at Karachi port

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has expressed serious concern over the heavy vehicular traffic congestion in Karachi's port area following the reopening of Baberloi Road (near the Sindh-Punjab border) after an 11-day closure due to the protest sit-in against canals.

In a statement issued from the CM House on Saturday, the CM said that this road blockage had halted cargo movements from upcountry, and upon resumption, the simultaneous influx of inbound and outbound traffic resulted in significant gridlock.

He emphasised that recurring traffic congestion, especially during the berthing of multiple ships at China Port (SAPT) or after public disruptions, leads to substantial economic losses and inconvenience.

Shah directed the traffic police to address the current crisis and implement measures to prevent future occurrences. These measures include establishing a round-the-clock Traffic Monitoring Cell near the port, implementing staggered entry timings for cargo vehicles to regulate movement, creating temporary parking zones to manage truck flow, holding daily coordination meetings between port authorities, police, and logistics companies, identifying and utilizing alternate routes to divert excess traffic, implementing a digital slot booking system for cargo dispatch and arrival, deploying mobile response teams to clear bottlenecks, and ensuring continuous public communication through media updates and traffic alerts.

The CM instructed all relevant departments to act swiftly and collaboratively to restore smooth traffic operations and facilitate trade activities at the port.

He also paid tribute to journalists who have sacrificed their lives in the pursuit of truth, calling them heroes of press freedom.

"Freedom of expression is a constitutional right in Pakistan," he said. He urged journalists to avoid spreading rumours for sensationalism or TV ratings.

Shah added that the Sindh government has granted complete freedom to journalists and reiterated that no action has ever been taken against any journalist by the provincial government.

He also addressed the recent controversy regarding canals, mentioning that many false reports have been published against the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and the Sindh government.

The CM encouraged journalists to highlight positive developments, particularly in promoting a better image of Karachi. He concluded by asserting that journalists in Sindh enjoy more protection and freedom compared to other regions of the country.

CM Shah congratulated the security forces on conducting three successful operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Shah praised the elimination of five militants during these operations, calling it a commendable achievement. "The operations carried out by security forces are essential for maintaining peace," he stated. The CM emphasised that such actions will continue until the last terrorist is eliminated.

He also congratulated Sindh police boxer Shaheer Afridi for defeating his Indian rival via knockout.

"Shaheer Afridi has made Sindh and Pakistan proud by knocking out his Indian opponent," said the CM. He expressed pride in the Sindh Police and announced rewards for Afridi on behalf of the Sindh government.