RAHIM YAR KHAN: Regular users of the Sukkur-Multan Motorway (M-5) face difficulties regarding safety during their drive.

There are two sectors on M-5, Sector 1 from Multan to Zahirpir and Sector 2 from Rahim Yar Khan to Rohri.

In Sector 1, there are four beats -- Multan, Jalalpur Pirwala, Uch Sharif and Zahirpir and in Sector 2, the beats are RY Khan, Guddu, Ghotki and Rohri.

There are multiple spots in RY Khan, Zahirpir and Uch Sharif beats where Anti Glaring Sheet (AGS) is missing. The AGS basically is a light protection shield for drivers which stops the beams of vehicles coming from the opposite direction.

According to some commuters who frequently use the motorway, the life of AGS is only around two years due to its material as it starts decomposing.

Similarly, at many points the guard rail along the edge of the motorway and at few locations the safety fence is also missing.

Due to broken fence, animals, including jackals, dogs and livestock of neighboring localities enter the motorway and create difficulties for drivers. There are complaints of stolen security cameras and theft of fence in Guddu and Ghotki beats.

According to some M-5 officials, the FWO has removed these installations at some locations due to the risk of theft. They said when the National Highway Authority (NHA) staff restored the broken or stolen fence, the criminals again removed it after a few days.

The NHA spokesperson at its Islamabad head office said the ministry of communications and its attached/affiliated departments, including NHA and National Highway and Motorway Police (NH&MP) had already identified identical problems of theft, particularly of fence in the area.

“They have already started working jointly in collaboration with the provincial governments which in this case is Sindh. Strict directions have been issued to relevant formations of NHA and NH&MP to curb the such happenings in future,” the spokesperson added.

Published in Dawn, March 23rd, 2025