SOPs ready for resumption of intercity transport, SHC told

E-Paper | June 23, 2026

KARACHI: Provincial authorities on Monday informed the Sindh High Court that the standard operating procedures (SOPs) had been developed for resumption of intercity transport.

The Sindh transport and mass transit secretary filed comments before a two-judge bench headed by Justice Omar Sial in a petition filed by the supreme council of all Pakistan transporters and others seeking restoration of intercity public transport.

The secretary in his comments stated that in compliance with an earlier court order a meeting was held with all the stakeholders in his office on May 21 and the transport department had amicably developed SOPs for operation of transport services from designated stands and terminals.

It was submitted in the comments that the transport services were essential, but measures were being taken to protect the precious lives of commuters as well as crews during the outbreak of the pandemic.

Three bus terminals have been notified for Karachi division

The consensual SOPs had been made for resumption of transport services only from designated and notified stands and terminals, it said and added that for Karachi division three bus terminals had been notified.

One for Superhighway-bound vehicles from Karachi bus terminal to Hyderabad-Sukkur-Larkana-Sanghar-Shaheed Benazirabad and vice versa; for National Highway-bound vehicles the KMC terminal in Korangi to Hyderabad-Thatta-Badin and vice versa and for KMC terminal at Yousuf Goth for RCD Highway-bound vehicles.

It also notified bus terminals at Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Sukkur and Larkana divisions.

The transport secretary further submitted that all the measures pertaining to restrictions on public transport were taken in the larger public interest and safety as the Sindh government was duty bound to protect life and liberty under Article 9 of the Constitution.

All-out efforts had been considered for restoration of public transport services with protective measures, he concluded.

The provincial transport department also submitted some suggestions regarding resumption of inter-province transport and the bench directed the petitioners to go through these recommendations and file their reply.

Published in Dawn, June 2nd, 2020

Our readers are at the heart of everything we do.
Do you have a thought to share or a way we can improve? We’d love to hear it. Reach out to us at feedback@dawn.com.

Pakistan

Police register terrorism case against driver in Karachi's DHA imambargah car crash

Federal, Sindh govts declare June 25, 26 as public holidays on account of Ashura

Relief for Karachiites as transporters call off strike after four days

Akhter

Jun 02, 2020 12:07pm

SOPs are worthless until someone monitors the implementation.

Recommend 0

Syed A. Mateen

Jun 02, 2020 02:12pm

It is the duty of every commuter travelling through public transport to wear mask while travelling between the points, otherwise, it will infect more people with coronavirus disease. I have no idea as what are the SOP’s made for the public transport owners and commuters, but there should be one thing which should be made must for all the drivers and conductors of public transport must wear the masks and at the same time do not allow any passenger to board on any bus, mini-bus, rickshaw, taxi, including passengers travelling through Uber and Careem that every passenger must wear a mask from the point of travelling and during the travelling until he get of from the public transport. Public transporters were charging high fares and after decrease in oil prices must decrease the fares between to two points of travelling of passengers and dis-infect their vehicles on daily basis, otherwise, the route permit of such transporters who are charging high fares should be cancelled forthwith.

Recommend 0

MoriRo

Jun 02, 2020 03:24pm

Transporters or business men are more interested in making money instead of having concern about safety and security of health and Life of citizens. When shopping malls and markets were opened;number of virus multiplied. I don't know if common people know the meaning of SOPs? When outsider visitors/individuals are not following social distancing guidelines even in the Highest Court so you are expecting transporters and individuals will follow social distancing guidelines in those 'soap-case-size/style' vans and coaches which are always crowded. And, inter city travel will export virus to those places where numbers of virus is less or none. So,resumption of inter-city transport /travel, will give opportunity to virus to multiply itself in huge numbers. Concerned quarters battling with virus must prepare themselves for challenges waiting for them in near future.

Recommend 0

Tariq

Jun 02, 2020 11:48pm

SOP's are mere just words and one can see that nothing exist as thing as SOP's in these informal sectors.

Recommend 0

Ibrahim S.

Jun 03, 2020 08:35am

How are we going to implement an SOP where people are packed around sardines . Do those people who created these SOP live in this Planet .

Recommend 0

Branded Content

Alif Holdings hosts Real Estate CEOs Conference with Bilal Yaseen live podcast by Mansoor Ali Khan

Topics expected to be discussed include housing policy, urban development, investment confidence, infrastructure planning and the future outlook of Pakistan’s real estate industry.