Karachi, Sindh being the largest city in Pakistan, has been marked by its busy roads and heavy flow of traffic. In this routine hustle and bustle, there is one concealed threat on the road: old, ill-maintained buses. These outdated buses have become a major cause of accidents in Karachi, leading to many tragic incidents and the loss of innocent lives. It is about time that Karachi enforces a ban on these unsafe buses to safeguard its citizens and warrant safer roads.
Recently, we viewed a tragic example of the result of these unsafe buses. A newly graduated lawyer, Arz Muhammad Luhur, was riding his bike carefully and following all the rules of traffic when an old bus hit his bike from the back. Due to the poor condition of the bus, it could not stop in time. This tragic accident deprived a promising young man of the ability to live out his life and have a bright future. Unfortunately, this incident is just another in the list of such accidents that show how desperately change is being needed.
Day by day, hundreds of accidents are taking place on Karachi’s roads, many involving these dangerous old buses. These buses are badly operated that they do not manage to stop at places where they must, or their brakes are flawed, or there is any other mechanical defect, thereby making them a danger to themselves and others on the road. The drivers most often are in a frenzy to pick up more and more passengers, which makes them drive without abiding by the rules of traffic, where the buses stop anywhere to take along riders, miscommunication ensues, causing further mishaps.
Most of these buses are not only in a deplorable state but they also lack all kinds of safety features. Seats have broken down, emergency doors are either guarded or not in service, and in case of any accident, it is hard to escape.
Overcrowding is another serious issue that these buses face, as people fill into them far beyond capacity, making the situation precarious for all the people on board.
This situation has reached a critical stage and requires immediate attention. The Sindh government, along with all concerned authorities, needs to take immediate action in banning these obsolete, unsafe buses from plying on the roads. Replacement with modern, well-maintained buses by well-trained drivers, who observe all traffic laws, will go a long way in reducing the rate of accidents and at the same time ensuring dependability and safety in public transport for all.
Let the painful death of Arz Muhammad Luhur be a lesson to make us more aware. We really cannot afford to continue losing our lives due to negligence and non-action. The time to act is now. The ban on these old buses will not only provide an improved transport facility but also save many lives and further tragedies on roads.
It requires the government’s facilitation, coordination of transport authorities, and the push from the public. We all have to come forward to implement the ban on these old buses. Our determination made today will go a long way in making Karachi a safer place to live for all of us. We all know this, and we should not wait for some other tragedy to push us for its implementation. We have to ban old buses now to save lives.
The writer is a student of law at Federal Urdu University, Karachi.
Old Buses’ Ban Can Save Lives?
Karachi, Sindh being the largest city in Pakistan, has been marked by its busy roads and heavy flow of traffic. In this routine hustle and bustle, there is one concealed threat on the road: old, ill-maintained buses. These outdated buses have become a major cause of accidents in Karachi, leading to many tragic incidents and the loss of innocent lives. It is about time that Karachi enforces a ban on these unsafe buses to safeguard its citizens and warrant safer roads.
Recently, we viewed a tragic example of the result of these unsafe buses. A newly graduated lawyer, Arz Muhammad Luhur, was riding his bike carefully and following all the rules of traffic when an old bus hit his bike from the back. Due to the poor condition of the bus, it could not stop in time. This tragic accident deprived a promising young man of the ability to live out his life and have a bright future. Unfortunately, this incident is just another in the list of such accidents that show how desperately change is being needed.
Day by day, hundreds of accidents are taking place on Karachi’s roads, many involving these dangerous old buses. These buses are badly operated that they do not manage to stop at places where they must, or their brakes are flawed, or there is any other mechanical defect, thereby making them a danger to themselves and others on the road. The drivers most often are in a frenzy to pick up more and more passengers, which makes them drive without abiding by the rules of traffic, where the buses stop anywhere to take along riders, miscommunication ensues, causing further mishaps.
Most of these buses are not only in a deplorable state but they also lack all kinds of safety features. Seats have broken down, emergency doors are either guarded or not in service, and in case of any accident, it is hard to escape.
Overcrowding is another serious issue that these buses face, as people fill into them far beyond capacity, making the situation precarious for all the people on board.
This situation has reached a critical stage and requires immediate attention. The Sindh government, along with all concerned authorities, needs to take immediate action in banning these obsolete, unsafe buses from plying on the roads. Replacement with modern, well-maintained buses by well-trained drivers, who observe all traffic laws, will go a long way in reducing the rate of accidents and at the same time ensuring dependability and safety in public transport for all.
Let the painful death of Arz Muhammad Luhur be a lesson to make us more aware. We really cannot afford to continue losing our lives due to negligence and non-action. The time to act is now. The ban on these old buses will not only provide an improved transport facility but also save many lives and further tragedies on roads.
It requires the government’s facilitation, coordination of transport authorities, and the push from the public. We all have to come forward to implement the ban on these old buses. Our determination made today will go a long way in making Karachi a safer place to live for all of us. We all know this, and we should not wait for some other tragedy to push us for its implementation. We have to ban old buses now to save lives.
The writer is a student of law at Federal Urdu University, Karachi.
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