Traffic chaos grips the city

KARACHI BUREAU —For Karachiites, traffic jams are a familiar ordeal but on Thursday evening, the city's notorious gridlock pushed commuters' patience to the limit. After a long day at work, thousands who had set out hoping to find some respite at home instead found themselves trapped in an endless crawl of traffic, watching precious hours slip away on choked roads.

Exhausted motorists sat bumper to bumper, ambulances struggled to make their way through the congestion, fuel went to waste and the promise of a quiet evening at home faded with every passing minute. Several of the city's major arteries were brought to a near standstill by a combination of public protests, ongoing development work and the relentless rush-hour rush.

According to traffic police, Hakim Ibn-e-Sina Road, leading from Habib Bank towards Nazimabad, was closed to traffic after residents staged a protest over the non-availability of water near Nadria Bus Stop in Nazimabad No 3. Traffic was diverted from beneath Habib Bank Bridge towards Bara Board, causing further pressure on surrounding roads.

The situation also disrupted traffic flow on MA Jinnah Road, Saddar, Mauripur Road and in the Shershah area, where motorists faced prolonged delays. Authorities attributed the congestion to the water-shortage protest, ongoing development work on various roads and the heavy volume of vehicles during peak hours.

Taking serious notice of the traffic chaos, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah directed traffic police and the district administration to immediately reach affected areas and take measures to restore the smooth flow of traffic. He instructed the authorities to ensure alternative routes were arranged without delay to spare commuters the ordeal of prolonged traffic jams, warning that disruptions on the city's major arteries would not be tolerated.

The chief minister also directed the managing director of the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation to immediately restore water supply in Nazimabad and resolve the legitimate grievances of protesting residents to ensure the road was reopened. Meanwhile, traffic police said personnel remained deployed at affected locations and continued efforts to regulate traffic and ease congestion.

Commuters were advised to contact the traffic helpline 1915 for guidance on alternative routes and to avoid further inconvenience.