The Karachi Traffic Police have introduced a special traffic plan to manage the rush during Eid shopping. According to DIG Traffic Pir Muhammad Shah, section officers and traffic personnel will be deployed across all districts from today.
Officials will monitor shopping centres and busy markets every evening from 7 pm until late, when businesses close. Additional staff will be present on major roads and in crowded commercial areas to keep traffic flowing smoothly.
Rickshaws and taxis will not be allowed in certain high traffic zones. Entry will be restricted from Allah Wali Chowrangi to Ittehad Signal. Commercial vehicles have been advised to take alternative routes including Allah Wali to Noorani Signal, Madi Care and Shaheed e Millat Road.
Traffic coming from Drigh Road will be allowed to travel via Millennium Bridge towards NEPA, though rickshaws and taxis will not be permitted beneath the bridge. If congestion builds up at Haidri Market, commercial vehicles from North Karachi should move through Five Star Chowrangi to Sharah Noorjahan and Landhi Kotri Chowrangi. Vehicles from the Board Office have been directed to use D A Chowrangi to Ziauddin Chowrangi and Sharah Noorjahan towards North Karachi.
Rickshaws and taxis will also be barred from Fawara to GPO and from Singer Chowk to Zaib un Nisa Street. They, along with commercial vehicles, have been instructed to use routes such as Fawara to M R Kayani Chowk, Sarwar Shaheed Road, Coast Guard to Regal or Tibet Center. Traffic on MA Jinnah Road has been advised to take Singer Chowk, Preedy Street, and Saddar Dawakhana.
Similarly, rickshaws and taxis will not be allowed from Tibet Chowk to Eidgah Chowk near Jama Cloth Market. Drivers should instead use Urdu Bazaar to Court Road Chowk or Fresco Chowk. In case of heavy traffic, alternate routes include Clifton Bridge to Teen Talwar, Race Course, or Chaudhry Khaliq uz Zaman Road. Vehicles from KPT Underpass have been directed to move through Bath Island to Clifton Bridge.
On Main Rashid Minhas Road, rickshaws and taxis will also face restrictions, while commercial vehicles will be diverted to Sajan Kaanta and Sarfaraz Ghori Road. DIG Pir Muhammad Shah added that illegal rickshaw and taxi stands will not be allowed near supermarkets across the city.