ISLAMABAD: The No Helmet, No Fuel initiative is being flouted openly in the twin cities by petrol station owners looking to sell their products and motorcyclists who just want their tanks filled.

CCTV footage shared on social media from various petrol stations in Rawalpindi and Islamabad has shown station owners who have their own helmets, which they make customers wear before filling up their tanks.

This kind of initiative was first taken in Bangladesh, where legislation was passed in 2017 to bar petrol stations from selling petrol to people driving with helmets. It was later adopted by India and Pakistan.

On directives from Punjab’s highest court, the provincial government issued a handout on the ban on the provision of fuel to bikers violating the rule. The federal capital’s administration issued the same orders.

While Dhaka and Delhi have managed to implement the initiative and have seen a significant decrease in the number of motorcyclists’ deaths caused by head injuries, here the move has largely been ridiculed.

At a few stations, there have been complaints that motorcyclists borrow helmets just to have their tanks filled, and then go on driving sans headgear.

Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Farrukh Rashid told this agency that the ITP was determined to follow the guidelines issued by the district magistrate and his deputed officials were dealing with such complaints in the field.

In response to a question, he said a video that recently surfaced on social media showing a petrol station staffer facilitating violators was from Rawalpindi, adding that the order was being followed in letter and spirit.

He said such an episode has not been reported in the capital yet. The ITP conducted meetings with all petrol station owners, he said, in which they were informed that their stations would be closed if they break the rule.

Citizens, however, complain that the price of protective gear has risen from Rs600 to Rs1,200, claiming that the rules were introduced in connivance with a certain ‘mafia’ to make money.

Sammad Khan, a commuter on the Islamabad Expressway, praised the authorities for taking this initiative and urged them to raise awareness at petrol stations to sensitise the public about the importance of wearing helmets.

He added that the concerned departments should also ensure that quality gear, as helmets are currently of low quality but expensive.

Published in Dawn, February 19th, 2019