PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa transport and mass transit department has removed more than 600 substandard gas cylinders from public transport vehicles in the province during a crackdown.

The action was launched in line with the cabinet’s decision made last month over several deaths by substandard gas cylinders on the Indus Highway.

Transport and mass transit secretary Fakhar Alam issued directives to the district officers of the department to remove substandard gas cylinders.

“The substandard gas cylinders explode during any vehicular accident,” TMTD director Shareef Hussain told Dawn.

He said the crackdown was in full swing across the province.

The director said motor vehicle examiners deputed on highways and roads in all districts were examining all public transport vehicles to remove substandard gas cylinders.

He said substandard gas cylinders mostly installed by the local mechanics had killed many passengers in the recent past.

“Only the gas cylinders certified by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority are allowed to be installed in public transport vehicles,” he said.

Mr Hussain said the crackdown would continue until the removal of substandard cylinders from all public transport vehicles in the province. Also, the traffic police began removing substandard gas cylinders from 20 public transport vehicles in the provincial capital.

A statement issued by the traffic police headquarters said action had been taken against the vehicles with more than substandard gas cylinders. It said those cylinders were removed in the presence of vehicle examiners.

The statement said none of those public transport vehicles possessed fitness certificates and that the cylinders were installed in dangerous places and thus, causing fears about deadly incidents.

It said several vehicles were directed to install gas cylinders at safe places to minimise damage in case of an accident.

Published in Dawn, April 21st, 2019