Over the past four months, Karachi has witnessed a sharp rise in road accidents involving heavy transport vehicles (HTVs), with at least 110 lives lost in 132 days. The most recent tragedy took place on the Northern Bypass, where a speeding dumper crashed into a car, killing three family members.
Police confirmed that the victims—Sulaiman, his son Usama, and their cousin Faraz—were on their way to Gulshan-e-Maymar when the accident happened. The dumper driver abandoned the vehicle and fled. Relatives later confirmed at Abbasi Shaheed Hospital that the deceased belonged to the same family. Sulaiman, a father of four, worked in the transport sector, while Faraz had married only two months earlier. The family lived in the Band Murad Norani Hotel area of Manghopir.
Recent data paints a grim picture: trailers caused 42 fatalities, water tankers 26, dumpers 22, and both Mazdas and buses 10 each. These figures raise serious concerns about the lack of effective traffic control in the city.
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In response to the crisis, Commissioner Karachi Syed Hassan Naqvi has introduced new safety regulations. All HTVs, including dumpers and tankers, must now be fitted with three cameras—front, rear, and inside the cabin—to monitor driver behaviour. This decision came after goods transporters ended a strike that had disrupted port activity.
Additional safety measures include a daytime driving ban for dumpers and a 30 km/h speed limit within city limits. Dumpers are now restricted from operating between 10pm and 6am.
Vehicles will also need to install safety guardrails and trackers, with data to be monitored at the DIG Traffic office. Transport companies have agreed to ensure their fleets are roadworthy within three to six months and must provide updates every ten days.
