KARACHI: Provincial authorities on Monday informed the Sindh High Court that the standard operating procedures (SOPs) had been developed for resumption of intercity transport.

The Sindh transport and mass transit secretary filed comments before a two-judge bench headed by Justice Omar Sial in a petition filed by the supreme council of all Pakistan transporters and others seeking restoration of intercity public transport.

The secretary in his comments stated that in compliance with an earlier court order a meeting was held with all the stakeholders in his office on May 21 and the transport department had amicably developed SOPs for operation of transport services from designated stands and terminals.

It was submitted in the comments that the transport services were essential, but measures were being taken to protect the precious lives of commuters as well as crews during the outbreak of the pandemic.

Three bus terminals have been notified for Karachi division

The consensual SOPs had been made for resumption of transport services only from designated and notified stands and terminals, it said and added that for Karachi division three bus terminals had been notified.

One for Superhighway-bound vehicles from Karachi bus terminal to Hyderabad-Sukkur-Larkana-Sanghar-Shaheed Benazirabad and vice versa; for National Highway-bound vehicles the KMC terminal in Korangi to Hyderabad-Thatta-Badin and vice versa and for KMC terminal at Yousuf Goth for RCD Highway-bound vehicles.

It also notified bus terminals at Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Sukkur and Larkana divisions.

The transport secretary further submitted that all the measures pertaining to restrictions on public transport were taken in the larger public interest and safety as the Sindh government was duty bound to protect life and liberty under Article 9 of the Constitution.

All-out efforts had been considered for restoration of public transport services with protective measures, he concluded.

The provincial transport department also submitted some suggestions regarding resumption of inter-province transport and the bench directed the petitioners to go through these recommendations and file their reply.

Published in Dawn, June 2nd, 2020