Off the road: Action ordered against underage drivers

MINGORA: In a bid to reduce accidents, Malakand Division Commissioner Asfar Khan has ordered a crackdown against underage rickshaw drivers and motorcycle riders. According to a press release issued from the Malakand division commissioner’s office, deputy commissioners were told to take effective measures against minor drivers. It noted that accidents in the area were causing fatalities. Authorities said the police and levies must chalk out a joint strategy to streamline the traffic system in the entire division. The DIG Malakand Division was told to assist the DPOs in the crackdown. The district police, levies personnel and administration should devise a plan to stop underage drivers as they were involved in most accidents, stated the press release. Locals in Mingora said despite repeated appeals to clean up the system, traffic was a complete mess and some jams lasted for hours.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 27^th, 2014.