Skyrocketing Road Mishaps in Karachi: 546 Lives Sadly Taken in 7-Month Span
In the bustling city of Karachi, Pakistan, a series of road accidents and a recent sit-in protest by the Dump Truck Association have brought the city's road safety issues into sharp focus.
Last week, a tragic incident on Rashid Minhas Road claimed the lives of Mahnoor and Ahmed Raza. The victims were run over by a speeding dumper, sparking outrage among the city's residents and calls for stricter enforcement of traffic rules and improved road safety measures.
In response to the incident, authorities have arrested 10 suspected individuals involved in the rioting and torching of dump trucks. The arrested individuals have been shifted to the police station, and further arrests will be made with the help of CCTV footage and video evidence.
The sit-in protest by the Dump Truck Association on the Super Highway was a response to the damage of nine of their vehicles and the loss of life in the accident. Association leader Liaqat Mehsud vowed not to leave the highway until the culprits are arrested.
The accident left a critical impact on the victims' family, with their father sustaining injuries. The incident occurred in the Federal B Area of Karachi, and it is not the first such incident in the city.
Heavy vehicles, particularly trailers, water tankers, dumpers, and buses, have been involved in a significant number of these fatal accidents. In 2025, Karachi recorded over 530 traffic deaths, with a significant share caused by these large vehicles. Authorities have responded with calls for better law enforcement and infrastructure improvements targeting heavy vehicle safety.
Karachi's approach to addressing road safety concerns is multi-pronged. The city's traffic police implement detailed traffic diversion plans during major events like the Chehlum procession and Independence Day celebrations, restricting vehicle access on key routes and establishing alternate corridors to ease congestion and enhance safety.
Heavy vehicles face strict entry bans or diversion from central areas, especially during events, to reduce accident risks caused by large vehicles. The Sindh Assembly passed the Provincial Motor Vehicle Amendment Bill 2025, empowering authorities to amend the Motor Vehicle Rules 1969 to include mandatory installation of GPS tracking and internal cameras on passenger and goods transport vehicles.
Vehicles over 20 years old are barred from inter-provincial routes, and those over 25 years old cannot operate on intra-city routes. Heavy fines and vehicle impoundment apply for operating without valid fitness certificates or violating age limits, aiming to phase out unsafe vehicles.
Despite these measures, the city has experienced 546 road accidents in the first seven months of 2025, resulting in 8,136 injuries and 546 fatalities. Trailers have been responsible for the highest number of fatalities with 62 deaths, followed by water tankers with 37, dumpers with 32, and buses with 20.
As the city grapples with these challenges, it is clear that more needs to be done to ensure the safety of its residents and visitors. The recent incidents have underscored the urgent need for stricter enforcement of traffic rules and improved infrastructure to prevent such tragedies from occurring in the future.
- Given the recent sit-in protest by the Dump Truck Association and the tragic road accident on Rashid Minahas Road that claimed Mahnoor and Ahmed Raza's lives, there is a growing public demand for stricter enforcement of traffic rules and improved safety measures, particularly in the prevention of accidents involving heavy vehicles such as dump trucks.
- The alarming increase in road accidents in the city of Karachi, including those in the categories of crime and justice (rioting, torching of dump trucks) and sports events, highlights the need for a comprehensive approach that addresses not only traffic rules but also infrastructure improvements, particularly for vehicles like trailers, water tankers, dumpers, and buses that have contributed significantly to traffic fatalities.
