10-Feb-2025, 01:21 PM
As of early February 2025, Karachi is facing a concerning surge in traffic accidents, with a significant increase in fatalities. Rescue authorities report that 92 people have lost their lives in road accidents in Karachi.
In the first 37 days of 2025, there were 99 major traffic incidents, resulting in 39 deaths. Recent reports indicate that six traffic accidents in Karachi within a 24-hour period led to 9 deaths and 9 injuries. These accidents often involve heavy vehicles such as dumpers, trailers, and oil tankers.
Traffic police data reveals that in the first six days of February alone, 32 accidents involved heavy traffic. Specifically, three dumper accidents caused five fatalities, ten trailer accidents resulted in 12 deaths, and thirteen truck accidents led to 13 fatalities. Additionally, five water tanker incidents caused eight deaths, and one oil tanker accident resulted in one fatality.
In response to the rising number of accidents, a four-member committee has been formed to investigate the causes. 490 drivers have been apprehended and 34,655 challans issued by traffic police.
A report by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) indicates that road safety in Pakistan has suffered due to a lack of strong leadership and management. The ADB report warns that without strong government measures, fatalities could increase by at least 33% by 2030. The report also notes that urban road design often prioritizes cars, with inadequate safety measures for pedestrians, motorcyclists, and bicyclists, along with limited road signs and uncontrolled access points.
In addition to traffic fatalities, a report by the Chipa Foundation indicates that 36 citizens died in various traffic accidents, and 528 others sustained injuries within the first two weeks of January 2025. The report also highlights that three individuals were killed and over injured in incidents of robbery resistance since the start of the year. Aerial firing has also contributed to the casualties, with one death and 11 injuries reported during the same period.
