Officials chalk out strategy for the future

Provincial transport authorities to ensure that no drug addict is hired as a driver for public transport vehicles

KARACHI: At a meeting held at the commissioner’s office on Wednesday, representatives of various government departments and bus owners’ associations put their heads together to chalk out a strategy to avoid a recurrence of the highway accident.

The provincial transport authorities will ensure that no drug addict is hired as a driver for public transport vehicles.

Commissioner Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui directed the bus owners’ association to ensure that each of their vehicles had provision for emergency gates. He also directed the provincial transport authorities to adopt and implement a strict criterion with regards to provision for fire extinguishers and other relevant gadgets in each of the inter-city or long-route buses.

The meeting also decided that each of the transport companies will issue tickets to the passengers as well as scan their luggage for inflammable items. The issuance of tickets will be followed by a mandatory provision to maintain a computerised record of each of the commuters travelling between cities, particularly their national identity card and other relevant documents.

Bus owners were also asked to ensure none of their drivers were tired, overworked and that they strictly abide by the route permit and fitness certificates issued to them.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 15^th, 2015.