F-Salaah bans old vehicles in Sindh
Vehicles older than 25 years will not be allowed to operate on intercity routes, while the age limit for vehicles operating within cities has been set at 35 years.
The Sindh government has made important amendments to the Sindh Motor Vehicle Rules 1969, making it mandatory for owners of heavy commercial vehicles to comply with new conditions.
Karachi (Report: Afzal Khan) The Sindh government has made important amendments to the Sindh Motor Vehicle Regulations 1969 to ensure traffic laws and public safety and an official notification has also been issued in this regard. Under the new amendments, it has been made mandatory for owners of heavy commercial vehicles to meet certain conditions. The amendments include the age limit of the fitness certificate of vehicles and the implementation of a modern toll collection system. Sindh Senior Minister and Provincial Minister for Information, Transport and Mass Transit Sharjeel Inam Memon has said in a statement regarding the new amendments that now all heavy commercial vehicles will now obtain fitness certificates from the centers established by the Transport Department. In case of violation, heavy fines will be imposed on vehicle owners. All the fines will be deposited online in the Sindh government account. He said that the new amendments have also set the age limit for vehicles, permits will not be given to vehicles older than 20 years on intercity routes, vehicles older than 25 years will not be allowed to operate on intercity routes, and the age limit for vehicles operating within cities has been set at 35 years. Sharjeel Inam Memon said that the law will come into effect within a year, during which a road test will be mandatory for all vehicles, a minor fine will be imposed on violations in the first phase, a fine of Rs 2 lakh for the second time and up to Rs 3 lakh for the third time. He said that the government has also made it mandatory that now no heavy or light commercial vehicle will be allowed to operate without a tracking and security system, every vehicle will be equipped with a GPS tracking device, high-definition cameras on the front and rear, driver monitoring camera and a 360-degree camera. According to Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon, under-one protection guards will also be mandatory to prevent small vehicles or motorcycles from getting under the vehicle during accidents. All these devices must be in fully functional condition and without their verification, the vehicle will not be registered, a fitness certificate will not be issued, nor will a permit or transfer of ownership of the vehicle be possible. He said that if this system is not installed in a vehicle or is deliberately damaged, heavy fines will be imposed, the vehicle will be temporarily stopped and if it is not rectified within 14 days, the registration will be permanently canceled. Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said that the amendments have been made to protect the lives and property of the public, reduce accidents and make the track system more transparent through modern technology. A major reason for track accidents across the province, including Karachi, is old and poorly running heavy vehicles. After the new amendments, no heavy vehicle will be allowed on the roads without fitness to cleats and safety devices. He said that the installation of modern tracking and camera systems will not only facilitate the implementation of traffic laws but will also help in finding out the causes of accidents and conducting transparent investigations. He said that the Sindh government has taken these strict decisions to protect the lives and property of the people and they will be implemented without any pressure. Clear instructions have been issued to the traffic police, excise police and transport authorities that no concessions should be made in the implementation of the laws. Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said that the implementation of the modern system will not only provide relief to the citizens but will also help in developing the transport sector on modern lines.