THE recent multi-day closure of PIDC bridge, Mai Kolachi, and I.I. Chundrigar Road due to security concerns once again highlighted a frustrating truth: Karachi’s traffic woes stem from poor management, not just its population size.

While security is crucial, the complete standstill of the city’s economic lifelines indicates a severe lack of contingency planning. When one road closure leads to a city-wide breakdown, it exposes a governance system that reacts rather than indulging in proactive management. We find ourselves in a situation where the security needs of the elite consistently take precedence over the economic wellbeing of citizens.

The costs are enormous. Beyond the millions of litres of fuel wasted in traffic jams, the impact on human productivity and the delays faced by emergency services are incalculable. A modern city cannot thrive on a ‘blockade-first’ approach without offering effective alternative routes, or a strong public transit system that can navigate around surface disruptions.

It is time the authorities stopped blaming overpopulation for their lack of action. We need a centralised traffic command, and real-time diversion strategies, as well as political determination to prioritise the mobility of the average taxpayer over convenient roadblocks.

If Karachi happens to be the engine running the country, our current gover- nance is keeping the handbrake engaged.

Laraib Fatima
Karachi

Published in Dawn, April 29th, 2026