The Sindh government announced on Thursday that all heavy vehicles operating in Karachi must obtain a physical fitness certificate, amid increasing number of traffic accidents involving dumper trucks.

“The provincial government will ensure that all heavy vehicles on the roads possess a fitness certificate,” Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon told reporters after a meeting led by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, where concerns over the rising traffic accidents in the city and the subsequent criticism of authorities for negligence were discussed.

Last week, the provincial government restricted the entry of heavy vehicles into Karachi during daytime hours, permitting their operation only from 11pm to 6am. Exceptions were made for trucks transporting essential goods, including water, petroleum products, medicines, and meat.

The transport department would be responsible for issuing fitness certificates, with barcodes assigned to all registered vehicles, the minister added.

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Memon stated that the Karachi Water & Sewerage Corporation would also issue barcodes for its water tankers along with fitness certificates. All heavy vehicles would have a 30-day period to obtain their fitness certificates; failure to do so would result in a ban from the roads, he added.

The provincial information minister emphasised that heavy vehicles entering Sindh from other provinces must possess a fitness certificate issued by the Sindh government. Memon noted that similar regulations had been established by the Punjab government and “will now be strictly enforced in Sindh.”

While addressing concerns about delays in the issuance of vehicle number plates, he mentioned that the excise department currently has 80,000 uncollected number plates. He also pointed out that there were only two motor vehicle inspectors in the province, but efforts were being made to increase that number.