The Karachi Traffic Police has issued a detailed traffic management plan ahead of the central Chehlum procession on Tuesday (today), warning commuters that several major roads will remain closed and traffic diversions will be in place throughout the day.
According to the traffic police, the central Chehlum procession will begin from Nishtar Park at 9:00am and proceed along its traditional route. During the procession, MA Jinnah Road will remain closed to all traffic.
Motorists travelling from Saddar towards Tower will be diverted through Preedy Street and II Chundrigar Road. Traffic diversions will also be enforced around Lighthouse, Empress Market, Regal Chowk and Tibet Centre to ensure the smooth movement of the procession.
Vehicles approaching from Shahrah-e-Quaideen will be redirected via Kashmir Road and People’s Chowrangi, while traffic coming from Korangi, Landhi and the National Highway will be diverted towards Rashid Minhas Road and the Super Highway.
Commuters travelling from Nazimabad can reach their destinations through Lasbela, Garden and Nishtar Road, while traffic from Liaquatabad will be diverted at Lasbela Chowk towards Nazimabad No. 10.
Traffic from Hassan Square will be routed through Shahrah-e-Quaideen, Society Light Signal and Teen Hatti before reaching Lasbela Chowk. Vehicles coming from Shahrah-e-Faisal will be diverted through Society Light Signal and Sher Shah Suri Road.
Meanwhile, motorists travelling from Jamshed Road towards Guru Mandir have been advised to use Bahadur Yar Jang Road or Soldier Bazaar Road as alternative routes.
The traffic police also announced that heavy vehicles will not be allowed to enter Karachi from 10:00am until the conclusion of the procession.
Authorities warned that parking will be strictly prohibited along the procession route, and any vehicle parked in violation of the restrictions will be towed away immediately.
Chehlum will be observed on August 4 with religious devotion and heightened security across Karachi and other parts of Sindh. The occasion marks the 40th day of mourning for Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and the martyrs of Karbala, who embraced martyrdom in the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD.
Mourning processions featuring Alam, Tazia and Zuljinah will be taken out in various cities across the province under strict security arrangements.
Punjab traffic police intensify crackdown on traffic violators
On the other hand, Punjab police intensified their crackdown against traffic violators.
As per the officials of the Punjab Police, they issued more than 4.8 million driving licences this year as part of a province-wide campaign aimed at improving public services and strengthening enforcement of traffic laws.
According to a police spokesperson, authorities issued more than 5.83 million traffic challans during the same period, collecting fines worth over Rs11.16 billion from motorists found violating traffic regulations.
Police also targeted environmental and road safety offences, issuing challans to 45,881 smoke-emitting vehicles. Officials said 6,871 vehicles were impounded, while the fitness certificates of 28 vehicles were confiscated after they failed to meet required safety standards.
Punjab Inspector General of Police (IGP) Abdul Kareem directed officers to continue the crackdown on traffic violations, stressing the need for the effective implementation of amended traffic laws and modern traffic management reforms across the province.