KARACHI, Oct 27: The transport and communication department of the city government has started a survey around major schools of Karachi to control traffic congestion and accidents as about 26 per cent of traffic accidents involve school-going children.

The Executive District Officer, Transport and Communication, Malik Zaheerul Islam, has sent a letter to about twenty major schools located in Saddar, Clifton, Defence, and PECHS areas along with a questionnaire to be filled by each student enabling the department to have an in-depth information about the causes of traffic problems outside the schools.

According to the letter, traffic congestion on major roads in the city because of the presence of schools was causing a serious traffic congestion as well as environmental problem. The problem has aggravated due to increase in motor vehicles, adding not only to traffic jams but also becoming a risk to the children’s safety.

The statistics collected by the transport and communication department reveal that nearly 26 per cent of road accidents involved schoolchildren, between 6 and 14 years of age, which is very high as compared to other parts of the world.

The schools to be covered in the first phase are: St. Joseph Girls School and College, Karachi Grammar School, senior and junior, Mama Parsi, St Michael, Cathedral School, St. Patrick School and College, St. Paul’s School, BVS Parsi High School and Habib Girls Secondary School, Pakistan Education Foundation College, Customs Public School and all branches of Karachi Public School and the Foundation School.

During the second phase, more schools in Tariq Road and Sharea Faisal will be covered.

The main purpose of the study is to develop a school bus system which will reduce traffic jams in the city.

The EDO stated that the transport and communication department and the traffic police were also considering measures to impart road safety education in the schools. —PPI