LAHORE, Feb 11: The Punjab Transport Authority has decided to impose a ban from March 15 on the use of multi-stage horns, commonly known as pressure horns.

Disclosing this at a meeting held at Hinopak Motors, Multan Road, on Monday to select the horns suitable for use in public transport, the PTA chairman said that the traffic police was being directed to ensure removal of all kinds of multi-stage horns by March 15 and prosecute those found using such horns beyond the deadline.

He said that the horns were being banned due to the shrill and harsh sound produced by them. Under Section 154 of the Motor Vehicles Ordniance 1965 the purpose of a horn was to inform the listener of an approaching vehicle and not to disturb and terrify him.

The PTA chairman said that only whistle type horns and the old fashioned bulb horns would be permitted in future.

He said that the PTA had also decided to get the horn manufacturers to register with the Transport Department.

Participants of the meeting rejected all three multi-stage horns presented for approval. Only a whistle type horn was approved.

The meeting was attended by the senior superintendent of Traffic Police (Headquarters), Punjab, Syed Ibne Husain, Mr Nasimur Rahman, a deputy director in the Environment Protection Department, Malik Muhammad Siddiq, chairman of the Puunjab Transport Unions Rabita Council, Mr Javed Masrour, Chairman, National Welfare Council, Mr Kramat Ali Qadri, the NAWO Lahore secretary general, and Horn Manufacturers’ Association representative Mr Abdul Ghani.