By Moin Ullah Shah
KARACHI: A meeting chaired by Commissioner Karachi Syed Hasan Naqvi was held at his office to review measures to address traffic congestion and remove obstacles affecting traffic flow.
The session was attended by DIG Traffic Peer Muhammad Shah, Municipal Commissioner Afzal Zaidi, Additional Commissioner One Ghulam Mehdi Shah, Deputy Commissioner South Javed Nabi Khoso, Assistant Commissioner Headquarters Rabia Syed, officials from the Regional Transport Authority, Provincial Transport Authority, Karachi Traffic Engineering Bureau, Cantonment Board, and other relevant departments.
Commissioner Hasan Naqvi emphasized the need for coordination among all relevant agencies to tackle Karachi’s growing traffic problems. He stressed effective enforcement of traffic management principles and laws, urging each institution to play a proactive and responsible role.
DIG Traffic Peer Muhammad Shah briefed the meeting on plans to issue e-challans for illegally parked vehicles, which are a major cause of congestion. Measures to prevent illegal parking on city roads were discussed, including utilizing basement parking in commercial buildings and shopping malls to reduce traffic pressure.
Deputy Commissioner South Javed Nabi Khoso reported that in Saddar, the basements of 22 commercial buildings have been cleared of encroachments and made available for parking. However, intermittent electricity, non-functioning CCTV cameras, and absent monitoring staff were discouraging citizens and shopkeepers from using these spaces.
It was decided that deputy commissioners would hold shopkeepers’ associations accountable to ensure the basement parking is effectively used, giving citizens a sense of security and easing traffic congestion. The meeting also reviewed measures for the repair and safety of deteriorated pedestrian bridges across the city.
Karachi Metropolitan Corporation confirmed that 20 bridges would be prioritized in the first phase, with tenders already issued. Work is expected to be completed within the next two months. Additionally, the session approved actions to tackle professional beggars and manage roadside hotels and restaurants more effectively, aiming to improve overall traffic management and public safety.
