Traffic Congestion
In a renewed attempt to alleviate chronic traffic congestion and improve urban transportation management, the Karachi administration has announced a temporary but sweeping ban on the movement of rickshaws along 20 major roads of the city.
The restriction, which will remain in effect for two months, targets both three-seater and five-seater rickshaws and is aimed at enhancing the flow of traffic on Karachi’s most frequently used and often gridlocked thoroughfares.
The ban has been formalised through an official notification issued by the Karachi Commissioner’s Office, following detailed recommendations submitted by the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Traffic. The notification grants the traffic police full enforcement authority to ensure strict adherence to the order across the city during the two-month period.
Among the roads listed under the new directive are some of Karachi’s most critical transit routes, including Shahrah-e-Faisal, Shahrah-e-Quaideen, I.I. Chundrigar Road, Sher Shah Suri Road, Shaheed-e-Millat Road, Abdullah Haroon Road, Stadium Road, and Rashid Minhas Road.
Additional high-traffic areas such as Shahrah-e-Pakistan, University Road, Korangi Road, Super Highway to Malir Halt, and Sir Shah Suleman Road are also included in the ban. The restriction extends to key segments from Quaidabad to Landhi 89, Do Talwar to Shahrah-e-Firdous, and Surjani to Abdullah Chowk, as well as routes like Orangi Road and Hub River Road.
The decision follows a similar but more limited restriction implemented last month, which covered 11 roads.
However, that measure fell short of expectations due to weak enforcement and ongoing violations by rickshaw drivers. Many complaints were raised regarding traffic bottlenecks and disorder caused by rickshaws operating in restricted zones.
City officials are optimistic that the expanded scope of the current ban, combined with more robust enforcement, will lead to noticeable improvements in traffic flow and public mobility.
The move is part of a broader strategy to modernize Karachi’s transportation infrastructure and reduce the city’s dependence on informal and unregulated transit modes.
Authorities have urged citizens and public transport operators to cooperate with traffic officials during this enforcement phase, warning that violations will be dealt with strictly.
