KARACHI:
The National Highway Authority (NHA) and concerned transit officials need to pay attention to the deteriorating and hazardous condition of the N-5 Halani-Sukkur road. This approximately 90-kilometre stretch has been under construction for nearly two years. The work is fragmented across multiple sections, forcing two-way traffic onto a single lane. These unpredictable, alternating diversions create severe safety risks for commuters, particularly motorcyclists who are highly vulnerable to uneven surfaces and sudden merges.
As a resident of Village Mirzanpur and a student at Sukkur IBA University, I regularly travel this route and witness these struggles daily. Tragically, more than two dozen casualties have already been reported along these sections, and accidents remain a frequent occurrence. The core issue is a glaring lack of safety precautions. Many construction zones lack adequate warning signs, reflectors, barriers, nighttime lighting or trained traffic wardens. While regional development is necessary, it must not come at the cost of human lives.
If this project requires more time to complete, authorities must implement strict traffic management and safe diversions immediately. A road project can be delayed, but a human life cannot be replaced.
Ali Murtaza
Mirzanpur
