KARACHI, May 4: The Karachi Traffic Management Board on Thursday expressed concern over chaotic public transport system in Karachi and approved a ban on all public transport vehicles made prior to 1976.

The board also approved ban on all smoke-emitting and noisy vehicles in the light of order of the Sindh High Court, and asked the traffic police to ensure strict implementation.

According to details, the meeting of the Karachi Traffic Management Board was held here at the Committee Room of the Civic Centre with City Nazim and board chairman Syed Mustafa Kamal in the chair. DCO Karachi Fazalur Rehman, DIG Traffic Falak Khursheed and representatives of Sindh Transport Department, EDO Transport and private sector attended the meeting.

The meeting decided in the light of an SHC order that all worn-out, smoke-emitting and noisy vehicles would be banned at once. The DIG Traffic told the meeting that in Lahore and Peshawar, there was a ban on plying of 4-6 and 9-11 years old public transport vehicles, respectively. He said to encourage CNG-run vehicles it was necessary to stop registration of minibuses, coaches and rickshaws.

The City Nazim said to improve the public transport system in Karachi there was a need to pay attention not only to the public transport system, but also to traffic police. He said that the city government would ensure implementation of all positive suggestions given by the board, so that the traffic system could be improved in Karachi.

He asked the concerned officials to issue notices to car showroom owners, who were parking their cars on roads and footpaths.

He said all their vehicles should be inside their showrooms and roads were not meant for this purpose. He asked the Karachi Traffic Management Board to take required steps to improve public transport system in Karachi. He said traffic police should also ensure implementation of orders of the Sindh High Court.

He said that the CNG-run transport would be encouraged and the city government would allot more plots for setting up new CNG stations.

He said ban on old vehicles would certainly cause loss to transporters, but the health and lives of citizens was more important.

He said all old and shabby vehicles of Pakistan used to find their way in Karachi. He said this practice was creating hurdles to maintain the image of Karachi as one of the international cities.

He said that traffic improvement on Sharea Faisal was important, but it was equally important to solve public transport and traffic issues faced by Landhi, Korangi, Baldia, Orangi and other parts of the city.

The meeting was of the opinion that auto-rickshaw was the major source of creating noise pollution, while engines of old buses and other vehicles were adding to air pollution.

The meeting said auto-rickshaws should be banned, while like Lahore and Peshawar the old-model public transport should not ply roads of Karachi. The board would now meet after 15 days. The board members were asked to submit their proposals prior to the board meeting so that they could be tabled during the meeting for a final decision.—PPI