KARACHI, Nov 12: Sindh Minister for Transport Mohammed Adil Siddiqi has taken strict cognizance of the movement of Balochistan-bound buses in the limits of Karachi city, observing that crew of these buses were still lifting and dropping passengers in different parts of the city in violation of the relevant rules.

The minister directed transport secretary, DIG Traffic and city government to take immediate steps to check entry of Balochistan-bound buses into the city and cancel their route permits.

He maintained that a bus terminal exclusively equipped with all the required modern facilities had been established at Yusuf Goth on RCD Highway for the buses shuttling between Karachi and Balochistan. As such, he added, there was no justification for the entry of these buses into the city.

He observed that development works were in progress across the metropolis and citizens were already facing traffic jams and other problems. The movement of inter-city buses was only adding to these problems. He pointed out that the government had already restricted the movement of heavy vehicles in the city from 8am to 11pm.

Mr Siddiqi said the government was taking every step to ensure that modern bus termini were established away from the densely populated areas of the city to avoid these buses’ entry into the congested areas. He said that recently, the government had set up a terminal for Daewoo buses which was three kilometres away from the city’s entry/exit point, Sohrab Goth.

Separately, speaking at a ceremony held to give away awards to the participants of the “Women Gold and Gems” exhibition on Sunday night at a local hotel, the minister said the industry of gems and gold jewelry had a bright future in Pakistan. He said the government would establish a “gems and jewelry estate” in Karachi. In this regard, cooperation would be sought from the government of Italy, he added.

Mr Siddiqui pointed out that India had given a boost to its gems and jewelry industry and was earning Rs1.5 billion annually from it.

“Pakistan is the seventh largest importer of gold in the country,” he said, adding that the country imported gold worth Rs2 billion a year. However, he regretted, this important sector was still neglected one and even modern jewelry machinery was not available in the local market. He pledged that the government would import the modern jewelry making machines.—PPI