• Administrative negligence—manifested through unlicensed drivers, unregulated private coaches, and absent speed enforcement—transforms preventable traffic incidents into fatal tragedies. Transforming transport oversight from casual dismissal to active legal accountability is essential to stopping this recurring toll.

Zaheer Udin Babar Junejo

Mithi, Tharparkar: Every monsoon, the narrative surrounding Tharparkar’s growing body count unfolds with agonizing regularity. Poverty drives suicides. Lightning strikes fell on people caught in storms. Individual recklessness is the scapegoat for traffic fatalities. The one actor capable of altering these tragic numbers, however, the district administration, rarely receives the necessary focus.

While this year’s monsoon 2026 has so far been relatively subdued, it has already claimed numerous lives in Tharparkar’s districts, including Chachro, Islamkot, Nagarparkar, and Diplo, through events such as lightning strikes, drowning in flooded areas, and electrocutions. Yet, beneath these incidents lies a more consistent and often overlooked pattern: motorcyclists run down by speeding coaches, families obliterated when buses skid or overturn on waterlogged or poorly maintained roads. Even before the wet, slippery roads exacerbated by this year’s rainfall, traffic accidents remained Pakistan’s top cause of trauma-related fatalities. This monsoon alone, the number of people in neighboring regions killed in “weather-related” accidents is staggering, even though most could have been averted with a safe transport system, enforceable speed limits, and properly licensed drivers.

Time and again, in the aftermath of these tragedies, residents of Tharparkar have made it clear that the district authorities remain conspicuously absent in the areas where the deaths occur, whether it be a flooded pond claiming a young life or a roadside that becomes a death trap due to an unlicensed driver. The familiar sequence repeats: a life is lost, condolences are expressed, and no systemic change materializes before the next fatality.

When a Tharparkar resident ends their own life, the narrative is readily available: poverty, debt, hunger, and a state failing to provide. This portrayal is not inaccurate, nor is it unwarranted; it has spurred important discussions about Thar’s economic marginalization.

However, when a motorcyclist is flattened by a speeding bus or a packed coach carrying passengers flips over due to a driver’s incompetence, the incident is casually dismissed as fate or an accident. No one investigates who issued the driver’s license, who was responsible for enforcing speed restrictions, or why the private coach was allowed to operate in the first place. No one holds the transport department accountable in court. Yet, the annual toll of people killed in traffic incidents in Tharparkar, whether as pedestrians, motorcyclists, or passengers in poorly maintained vehicles, potentially surpasses that of suicide, simply by virtue of not commanding the same headlines or public outcry.

This disparity is not a coincidence. Poverty represents a slow-burning structural issue, abstract enough to be pointed to without naming a culpable individual. In contrast, a speeding bus driven by an unlicensed operator involves concrete elements like a license, a route, an owner, and a regulatory body supposed to be overseeing operations. Holding the administration accountable for this is more challenging and potentially inconvenient for those charged with oversight.

If the district administration in Tharparkar is serious about saving lives rather than merely lamenting them, implementing effective measures is not a mystery. These are the same traffic-safety strategies recommended by experts for years, and they require minimal technological intervention, primarily a commitment to enforcement:

1. Strict regulation of private vehicles and motorcycles on hazardous corridors – particularly during monsoon season and periods of high traffic like Independence Day, when road usage increases and slippery conditions pose a greater risk.
2. Transition from ad hoc private transportation to regulated public transport servicing towns in Tharparkar, directly operated and monitored by the district administration instead of allowing unregulated private coaches to compete and speed.
3. Zero-tolerance approach to licensing enforcement for all vehicle types. Drivers of fatal accidents in Sindh this year had expired or invalid licenses, a systemic failure not a chance occurrence.
4. Enforceable speed limits with visible police presence on accident-prone routes, rather than mere advisory signs that are largely ignored.
5. Unwavering application of enforcement rules for everyone, including politically connected transporters, informal transport services, and holiday traffic. Introducing double standards in enforcement constitutes administrative neglect.

Blame will always be initially directed at individual drivers because it is easier than scrutinizing a licensing regime or investing in public transportation. However, any district that tolerates unlicensed drivers, uncontrolled private coaches, and ignored speed limits is actively choosing to sacrifice lives – a decision repeated each monsoon, each holiday, and each time a family mourns a loved one who should have reached home safely.

Tharparkar requires an administration willing to accept responsibility and be held accountable in court, and courts to run a fair trial, much like any other criminal, when negligence leads to preventable deaths on its roads. These are not acts of fate, but policy failures with a deadly body count that will persist as long as the officials responsible for licensing, road safety, and public transport are not held to the same standard of scrutiny as “reckless drivers.”

Read: Stop the Tears Before They Fall

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Zaheer Udin Babar Junejo is Community Driven Development Specialist based in Hyderabad.

The post Tharparkar: The Monsoon Tragedies first appeared on Sindh Courier.

Karachi, the largest city in Pakistan, faces a critical traffic incident crisis that demands urgent attention. The rapid urbanization, increased vehicle ownership, and inadequate infrastructure have contributed to a troubling rise in road accidents. Key points about the situation include:

According to recent reports, Karachi sees thousands of traffic accidents annually, with a significant number resulting in fatalities or severe injuries.

Data indicates a marked increase in incidents over the past few years, with motorcyclists and pedestrians being disproportionately affected.

Causes

Overcrowding: The city’s road networks are often overwhelmed by a high volume of vehicles, exacerbating congestion and increasing the likelihood of accidents.

Poor Infrastructure: Many roads are poorly maintained, lacking proper signage, lighting, and traffic management systems.

Reckless Driving: Traffic violations, such as speeding, running red lights, and driving under the influence, are prevalent issues.

Lack of Awareness: A significant portion of drivers and pedestrians lacks awareness of traffic laws and safety protocols, leading to irresponsible behavior on the roads.

Read: Teenage girl killed in another Karachi road accident

Consequences

The human cost of traffic incidents is devastating, with families losing loved ones and many suffering from life-altering injuries.

Economic repercussions include increased healthcare costs for the injured, loss of productivity, and damage to property.

Traffic congestion due to accidents further leads to delays and inefficiencies, impacting daily life and business operations.

Recent Accidents

In the three holidays of Eid’ul-Fitr, up to seven people lost their lives, and 175 others got injured in the accidents occurred due to rough driving and poor infrastructure in Karachi. One of the heartbreaking aspects of these accidents is that many families lose their only earning hand.

These tragic incidents include death of a young motorcyclist named Hasnain of Liaquatabad, and death of a girl ad injuries to her mother in Malir Moina-Abad and Korangi.

Recommendations

Enhanced Enforcement: Strengthening traffic law enforcement to deter reckless driving is crucial.

Infrastructure Development: Investment in better road infrastructure and facilities, including pedestrian walkways and dedicated lanes for motorcycles.

Public Awareness Campaigns: Initiating campaigns to educate the public about safe driving practices and pedestrian rights.

Emergency Response Improvement: Developing quicker emergency response protocols to reduce the response time for road accidents.

Read: Rampant Road Accidents in Pakistan Pose Special Challenge

Conclusion

Addressing the traffic incident crisis in Karachi requires a multifaceted approach that combines infrastructure improvements, strict enforcement of traffic laws, and public education. The collective efforts of government authorities, law enforcement, and civil society are essential to creating a safer environment for all road users.

Call to Action

For anyone concerned about the safety of Karachi’s roads, it’s crucial to advocate for change. Engaging with community initiatives, participating in safety programs, and raising awareness can contribute to mitigating this grave situation.

I hope the government will act rapidly on this issue and address traffic issues in Karachi.

Wasi Ul Hassan

Karachi

The post Traffic Accidents in Karachi first appeared on Sindh Courier.

Karachi, Sindh 

Expressed deep concern over the tragic accident on Karsaz Road, which resulted in the loss of two innocent lives and left five others injured, the Social Research and Development Organization (SRDO) has demanded a thorough and impartial investigation into the circumstances surrounding the accident to ensure accountability and justice.

SRDO, an organization dedicated to improving road safety in Karachi, has called the incident both unfortunate and preventable.

Abdul Qadir, President, and Amir Murtaza, Director of SRDO, emphasized the urgent need for enhanced road safety education in Karachi, particularly on its increasingly congested roads where heavy traffic, SUVs, and motorcycles share the same space.

They highlighted that even a small mistake can lead to fatal consequences in such conditions, underscoring the critical role of traffic police in enforcing road safety measures.

They stressed that road safety training should be made mandatory for all drivers, noting that the current focus during driving license tests is primarily on the candidate’s driving skills, with little to no emphasis on their understanding of safe driving practices.

The SRDO officials also drew attention to the broader issue of mental health in Pakistan, linking it to road safety. He pointed out that mental health issues are widespread in the country, yet there is a significant lack of awareness and social acceptance regarding seeking psychological help.

They lamented the fact that discussions about mental health are rare among the general population, which exacerbates the problem. “Mental health is not only crucial for individual well-being but also plays a vital role in the health of families, productivity in the workplace, and harmony in public spaces.”

Read: Why accidents are allowed to happen….

“In families, untreated mental health issues can lead to strained relationships and a breakdown in communication, affecting the overall dynamics and support systems. In the workplace, mental health directly impacts employee performance, decision-making, and interpersonal interactions, influencing the organization’s overall efficiency. In public spaces, individuals struggling with mental health issues may face difficulties in coping with stressors, potentially leading to unsafe or disruptive behaviors.”

SRDO strongly urged the government and relevant authorities to take immediate and concrete steps to address these critical issues. “The road safety education and training for all drivers should be declared mandatory, coupled with regular mental health assessments to ensure that drivers are both physically and mentally fit to be on the road.”

The organization also calls for a nationwide campaign to raise awareness about road safety and mental health, aiming to foster a safer and more responsible driving culture in Karachi and rest of Sindh province and country. (PR)

Read: Rampant Road Accidents in Pakistan Pose Special Challenge

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The post Karsaz Accident: NGO Demands Thorough Probe, Accountability and Justice first appeared on Sindh Courier.

From Correspondent

Hyderabad, Sindh

It transpired during a meeting here on Thursday April 18 that 115 people died and 317 were injured in 98 road accident since 2019 at Indus Highway.

Sindh Chief Secretary Syed Asif Hyder Shah had convened a meeting at Shahbaz Hall to review the construction of the dual carriageway road from Jamshoro to Sehwan and the obstacles and tragic accidents happening on the road.

Speaking in the meeting, Chief Secretary said that the National Highway Authority (NHA) has delayed a lot in the construction of this road and the work could not be completed within the stipulated time. Expressing regret, he said that precious lives are being lost due to non-completion of the road.

Chief Secretary said that he was told that 115 people died and 317 were injured from 2019 till now, which is very sad.

In their briefing, NHA officials said that the dual carriageway will be completed by June 2024.

Deputy Inspector General Motorway Muhammad Saleem said that there are ten dangerous sharp turns in the Indus Highway, which cause ninety percent of accidents.

Chief Secretary Syed Asif Hyder Shah said that water flows should be taken care in the view of climate changes, culverts should be constructed in the carriageway and road should be constructed considering the rains of 2022.

Motorway police was directed to increase the number of patrolling police and establish a control room.

Secretary Local Government, Secretary Works and Services and other officials participated in the meeting.

Meanwhile, another meeting discussed the development work carried out in Hyderabad. Mayor Hyderabad Kashif Shoro briefed about the construction of Abdul Sattar Eidhi road and Autobhan road and said encroachment and high transmission line of HESCO is the big hindrance in the construction of roads. Chief Secretary directed the commissioner Hyderabad Ahsan Qureshi to make it convenient to remove those obstacles.

Read: Ill-Planned Amri Bridge over Indus River caused floods in 2022

Yet another meeting about restoration and beautification of shrine of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar was held. Chief Secretary Syed Asif Haider Shah said that pilgrims face a lot of difficulty in reaching the shrine during the annual fair. He directed to widen the roads and streets leading to the Dargah, remove the encroachment and restore the beauty of city. For this, the road leading from Bypass to Shrine should be widened and footpaths should be constructed. He said that parking of vehicles, renovation of bus stand and drainage schemes should be restored.

Chief Secretary said that the road from shrine to the fort should also be constructed. He gave strict instructions to the officials of the Auqaf Department and directed them to ensure arrangements for the pilgrims to visit the shrine.

Chief Secretary Sindh instructed Chairman Sehwan Municipal Committee to focus on tax collection in Sehwan.

SSP Jamshoro Tariq Ali told that a large number of pilgrims come during the fair, but the entry and exit points of the shrine are narrow and congested, which causes security problem. He suggested reconstruction of roads and streets, besides a new building of police station should also be constructed near the shrine.

Read: Plans to build a new bridge on Indus River between Hyderabad and Jamshoro

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The post Indus Highway: 115 People Died, 317 Injured in Accidents Since 2019 first appeared on Sindh Courier.

I want to bring the issue of an increasing number of incidences of reckless driving every day to the attention of the relevant authorities and the general public. The chance of an accident significantly rises when driving carelessly. Reckless driving has become a norm; in almost every city and town, and on roads, several accidents occur every day as drivers play with the lives of elderly and young people. Boys of all ages enjoy the speed. They disobey the regulations of the road, taking satisfaction in passing other cars and crossing the street against the light. The deaths and fatal injuries are the outcome of all this. Traffic laws must be followed, and inebriated and underage drivers need to face consequences. A careless driver who frequently speeds away and knocks someone over should be forced to stop these type of actions. Government should force traffic police department to control reckless driving.

Rab Dino Phulpoto

Village Qutub Phulpoto, Tauluka and District Khairpur

The post Reckless Drivers Play with Human Lives first appeared on Sindh Courier.

By Nazarul Islam

Almost eight years ago, Americans had found themselves amid a lengthy, and ultimately pointless, government shutdown. To what end? Ostensibly, the nation’s two major political parties were fighting over how to finance the Affordable Care Act. The larger picture, which will sound familiar, was that Democrats wanted to spend more money than they were willing to raise in taxes, while congressional Republicans—who had spent freely during George Bush’s presidency — magically rediscovered their fiscally prudent muscle memory after a Democrat moved into the White House.

To sum up the impact—that 17-day partial federal shutdown really had demonstrated, how toxic political partisanship had led to governmental gridlock. With apologies to any ‘Libertarians’ in the audience, the 2013 shutdown had also showed that a dysfunctional government can cost human lives—and in those days, we weren’t even suffering through a pandemic of any proportion.

And this week, the United States has passed a grim total: More than 700,000 Americans have died of COVID-19 during the global pandemic that arrived in the U.S. in January 2020. Americans die prematurely of many causes besides pathogens—shootings, opioids, motor vehicle accidents—and six months before the new coronavirus strain hit our shores, the Washington Post published a story by staff writer Ashley Halsey III with a bracing headline: “More Americans have died in car crashes since 2000 than in both World Wars.”

Every single year since 1996, the Network of Employers for Traffic Safety has sponsored “drive safely work weeks.” We’re in the middle of just such a campaign now. In the coming 10 days, the Department of Transportation will have another campaign—this one, focused on the teenagers.

Again…it was this week in 2009, after a White House summit on distracted driving, when President Obama issued an executive order directing federal employees not to text while behind the wheel of a motor vehicle. In sharp contrast to President Biden’s recent directives to federal employees regarding coronavirus vaccines, Obama’s action received scant news coverage, and directed no outcry of protest.

Eventually, this kind of pandemic will subside, but America’s streets and highways will continue to remain dangerous. We cannot discount the fact that governmental action has proven its worth, and therefore, needs be stepped up. From 1966, the first year that annual traffic deaths surpassed 50,000, through 1973, our country, the US averaged 52,712 traffic deaths per year.

A series of laws and regulations ranging from seat-belt and air-bag requirements to getting tough on drunk drivers certainly succeeded in lowering those numbers to below 40,000 annually, even as the population of the US increased and the number of miles driven swelled up in the country.

Obviously, texting and other distracted driving habits have slowed the progress, however. Perhaps the state of our politics is distracting government—and the American people—from redoubling efforts that have proven to save many lives.

“Where’s the social outrage?” National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Robert L. Sumwalt had remarked at a public gathering, two years ago.

Yes Sir, the time has come for all of us, to demonstrate our social outrage.

Nazarul Islam

The Bengal-born writer Nazarul Islam is a senior educationist based in USA. He writes for Sindh Courier and the newspapers of Bangladesh, India and America. He is author of a recently published book ‘Chasing Hope’ – a compilation of his 119 articles.

The post Road safety saves precious lives first appeared on Sindh Courier.

The present situation with regard to road accidents, poses a special challenge in Pakistan as beside poor healthcare system, which is unable to cope with the requirements needed to treat the persons injured in accidents, the authorities concerned as well as the people in general are least prepared to respond to this assault.

By Maria Khushk

Road accidents are a universal issue, as according to data collected through international studies, an estimated 10 million motor vehicle crashes are reported annually worldwide. This is the leading cause of death of people of all ages including adolescents and young adults. Nearly three quarters of deaths resulting from these crashes occur in developing countries. Pakistan is also one of the developing countries in South Asia where the road accidents have registered sharp increase with increased use of motor vehicles.

The road accidents not only put burden on healthcare facilities but also devastate the families. The deaths and injuries are being recognized as one of the important public health challenges.

The present situation with regard to road accidents, poses a special challenge in Pakistan as beside poor healthcare system, which is unable to cope with the requirements needed to treat the persons injured in accidents, the authorities concerned as well as the people in general are least prepared to respond to this assault.

According to the data compiled by Federal Bureau of Statistics, as many as 10779 road accidents were reported during the year 2018-19, of which 4879 accidents were fatal and 5901 were non-fatal. These accidents caused death of 5932 while 13219 people were injured.

The province-wise breakup of data shows that 972 accidents occurred in Sindh during the same year, of which 620 were fatal and 352 non-fatal which killed 725 people and injured 829. The data shows that the number of road accidents in Sindh was less as compared to other provinces but still it is a matter of great concern.

The major reasons for the accidents can be attributed to poor road engineering and deficient road structure, careless driving, lack of road safety awareness, inconsistent and improper law enforcement and unsafe means of pedestrian crossings.

According to my observation, in most of the cases the accidents occur due to the carelessness of drivers be it truck drivers, bus drivers or the drivers of cars and other vehicles. The truck drivers use to drink and drive, and sometimes they drink or use narcotics while driving. It causes many accidents leading them to death but in spite of this other drivers do not get any lesson from it.

They run the truck over on the wrong path or crash with the trees or collide with other vehicles. Similarly, if we examine, the bus drivers mostly overtake the cars and other vehicles and cause the accidents. They are least concerned with the results of rash driving that takes the life of many people. Even they do not have concern of their own family, as perhaps they believe their life is a trash box which has no meaning at all.

Furthermore, a few days back, we watched an unbelievable video which shocked us completely – a five-year boy drove a car by himself all alone for having an ice-cream!

We all have seen such cases wherein under-age boys use to ride a bike or car. If someone gets injured, the parents accuse the government holding it responsible but the question is why the parents allow their children to drive the bike or car? May I ask the parents who is responsible for it?

The dangerous vehicle on the earth is the bike. Teenagers habitually use a bike for one wheeling without helmet for enjoyment; they think, they’re playing but they do not think actually they are playing with their own life. Many young and older people do not like to wear helmet for safety, as they think it is old fashion. I’m an eyewitness to such kind of accident that occurred at Three Sword in Karachi where two bike riders slipped and one of them hit to the footpath. The blood was oozing from his head.

The performance of traffic police is also questionable. Of course, the duty of traffic cops is really tough, but the fact is that they are more concerned with extracting money from violators of traffic rules and allowing them to continue reckless driving rather than controlling the traffic. This happens not only in our cities but also on highways and motorways. The result is obvious – road crashes and loss of precious lives.

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About the Author

Maria Khushk is the M. Phil scholar and author of a book ‘The Cage of Innocence’. She is freelance writer and contributes write-ups on reality and current situation. Her book is compilation of short stories. In her short stories, she thematically focuses on feminism. She belongs to Baloch family, where in previous decades it was quite difficult to pursue education. It’s now the talk of the past decades but from her pen still such stories spill in the form of blood on moony pages.

The post Rampant Road Accidents in Pakistan Pose Special Challenge first appeared on Sindh Courier.