THIS has reference to the sudden increase in the number of heavy vehicles seen on Karachi roads irrespective of time of the day.

In the past heavy vehicles were allowed access to certain main roads and that too only after midnight. However, large fully loaded dumper trucks can be seen speeding away on the Baloch Colony bypass, main Karsaz Road, Tariq Road and other key roads even during morning

school times, posing great risk to hurrying cars carrying schoolgoing children.

Many such trucks are laden with heavy cargo, including lose rocks and boulders that fall off and can seriously cause multiple traffic accidents.

Furthermore, drivers of these trucks can be seen flagrantly violating traffic rules. After the Shershah Bridge collapse, many narrow bridges have been off limits for heavy vehicles, including the KPT overhead on main Korangi Road.

However, fully loaded dumper trucks can be seen frequently climbing this small flyover that may lead to another bridge collapse with more devastating consequences due to greater height.

Upon inquiry from a traffic police officer as to why such vehicles were not fined, I was informed that the trucks’ association has taken a stay order from courts that allow heavy vehicles to freely use any road in Karachi at any time of the day without facing fines from the traffic police.

I do not believe the court would allow heavy vehicles the permit to kill innocent commuters, and hereby request the court to re-issue the previous ban on the movement of heavy vehicles during day time in clear, stricter words to avoid any misinterpretation, as well as revoke any purported stays that may have been granted in this regard so that any unnecessary loss of life can be prevented on Karachi roads.

AHMER N. JAKARTAWALA Karachi