IGP assures goods transporters of better safety steps on highways

Sindh Inspector General of Police Ghulam Nabi Memon chaired a high-level meeting on Monday with representatives of various goods transport associations at the Central Police Office (CPO).

The meeting was attended by Additional IG Karachi Javed Alam Odho, along with DIGs from the Sindh Police Highway Patrol, Establishment, Headquarters, Divisional, and Karachi Ranges. Representatives from major transport associations also participated, including President of the Karachi Goods Association Malik Sher Khan, Malik Transporter K Shahzad Awan, Yasin Khan Niazi from the United Goods Transport Association, Imdad Naqvi of the Karachi Goods Carrier Association, Malik Shabbar, Ghulam Muhammad Afridi, Nizar Jafri of Pakistan Goods, and Rana Asim Shakoor of the Fleet Operator Association of Pakistan.

During the meeting, the DIG Sindh police highway patrol provided a briefing on police deployment and security measures along major highways. He said the Sindh government had established a dedicated unit—the Sindh Police Highway Patrol—for highway security. As part of this initiative, 88 police baton units and 90 vehicles had been deployed across 42 toll plazas and 13 key highways in Sindh. The patrol unit operated around the clock. A centralised control center and a universal helpline number were also set to be launched soon. Transport representatives expressed gratitude to the police for their cooperation during recent protests, road blockades, and demonstrations. They noted that miscreants often target goods vehicles during such events and urged the authorities to discourage the practice of road blockages.

The transporters also proposed connecting security cameras installed at petrol pumps and nearby buildings to a central control room for enhanced surveillance. Furthermore, they recommended establishing a joint helpline through cooperation between the police and relevant agencies.

Memon assured participants that orders had already been issued to district officers and DIGs to register cases against those involved in road blockages. He encouraged transporters to install surveillance cameras in their vehicles to assist in identifying attackers. Memon also instructed all district officers to increase police presence on highways and maintain open communication with transporters during emergencies.