PRO, DHA KARACHI: A report published in your newspaper on September 8 which gives the impression that the DHA has closed/changed various bus routes, thereby creating impediments for public transport vehicles owners is not factual and is based on a misconception of the entire issue.
DHA Karachi has in fact nothing to do with the business of determining or altering the specified bus routes in an area as the subject falls within the purview of the Regional Transport Authority. The Authority has, however, made Khayaban-e-Shamsheer and Khayaban-e-Mujahid one-way for traffic, as per its Master Plan and in accordance with the demand of the residents.
The DHA recently held a meeting with the representatives of the Karachi Transport Ittehad (KTI) to discuss the impending changes occurring to the routes of public transport (buses, mini-buses and coaches, etc) plying DHA, as a result of the implementation of its Master Plan. A consensus traffic plan was formulated in consultation and with the consent of representatives of the KTI and was sent to the Deputy Commissioner (South) for necessary action. It is the domain and function of the traffic police to implement traffic plans and to ensure that public transport only ply authorised/specified routes. The involvement of or role played by the DHA Vigilance in controlling and regulating routes of public transport vehicles in the housing authority as portrayed in the report is erroneous.
Lt Col (retd) Syed Rafat Hussain Naqvi
Published in The Express Tribune, September 17th, 2012.
