Killer Karachi roads

The authorities continue to fail as yet another heavy vehicle barrelling down Karachi's roads claims a precious life. Forty-five-year-old Faiza, who was pregnant, was riding pillion on a motorcycle driven by her husband, Fahim (55), when a speeding trailer hit them in Liaquatabad. Faiza succumbed to her injuries, and with her, her unborn child was also lost. Fahim remains under treatment for his injuries.

The ill-fated Faiza is not the first casualty of what has now become a hit-and-run culture in Karachi - driven by a host of factors, namely untrained drivers, excessive speeding, poor fleet maintenance, and, most critically, a total lack of regulatory oversight. Tragically, she will not be the last unless this fatal tendency to speed is acknowledged as a societal malady.

These heart-wrenching losses are part of a much wider, systemic crisis, as demonstrated by the staggering casualty numbers. In August 2025, a speeding dumper truck struck a motorcycle, killing siblings Mahnoor and Ahmed, while leaving their father critically injured. Another young man lost his life in December 2025 when a truck crashed into his motorcycle on the National Highway. Similarly, in January 2026, two seven-year-old boys were crushed to death in separate incidents – one by a water tanker and the other by a truck. It has been estimated that heavy vehicles claimed 147 lives in Karachi during the first six months of 2026.

While measures such as the Sindh government's daytime ban exist, they are not properly enforced. There must be rigid liability measures in place, such as revising Section 320 of the Pakistan Penal Code to make "causing death by rash or negligent driving" a non-bailable offence, which would compel drivers to be more vigilant. Additionally, installing GPS trackers and dashcams in commercial trucks would allow regulators to monitor speed and operating hours effectively. The daytime ban must also be strictly enforced through regular checks and increased police patrolling to prevent future violations.

Our roads must not become death traps. Enough lives have been lost. The carnage must stop now.