KARACHI, June 24: The Sindh government has imposed a ban on registration of two-stroke rickshaws throughout the province.

According to a notification issued here on Saturday, the ban, effective June 30, 2006, has been imposed under section 45-(B), Sub-Section (i) of the Motor Vehicle Ordinance 1965.

Owners of the two-stroke rickshaws already registered have been advised to get engines of these vehicles converted to four-stroke engines by June 30, 2007, the date after which no two-stroke rickshaws would be allowed to ply in Sindh.

It may be mentioned here that the Supreme Court, in its May 23, 2003 order, had directed all four provincial governments to take comprehensive and effective measures against smoke-emitting and noise-creating vehicles to control pollution.

The Punjab government had imposed a ban on two-stroke rickshaws on January 1, 2005.

According to the Sindh government notification, the secretary Excise and Taxation and DIG Traffic have been directed to take steps to ensure strict enforcement of the ban.—APP