Another deadly crash at Malir Halt adds to Karachi’s rising toll.
A horrific accident in Karachi resulted in the deaths of a young couple and their newborn baby on Monday when a water tanker lost control and hit them, police and hospital officials reported.
Karachi Traffic Police Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Pir Mohammed Shah stated that the water tanker was traveling from Model Colony towards Shahrah-e-Faisal when the driver failed to make a left turn. Despite the presence of newly installed concrete barriers, the vehicle crashed through them and careened onto the opposite side of the road, colliding with a motorcycle carrying the victims.
The deceased were identified as 25-year-old Abdul Qayum and his 19-year-old wife, Zainab. According to Korangi Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mohammed Tariq Nawaz, the couple was heading to a hospital for a medical checkup when tragedy struck. The pregnant woman, who was full-term, delivered her baby after the impact, but the newborn did not survive.
Dr. Summaiya Syed, a police surgeon, confirmed that the bodies of the couple and their newborn were brought to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC). She noted that while the mother sustained severe crush injuries, the infant’s body showed no external wounds.
Investigation Points to Driver Fatigue and Speeding On Malir Halt
Investigators have determined that the crash near Malir Halt was primarily caused by the driver’s extreme exhaustion and reckless speeding. Authorities revealed that the tanker driver, Rahim, had been working an exhausting 24-hour shift, leaving him severely fatigued and unable to control the vehicle properly.
Although the driver initially blamed brake failure, traffic officials confirmed that the brakes were in working condition and that the primary cause was overspeeding. The tanker, traced back to Safora Hydrant using a QR code, also crashed into a Hiace van and another motorcycle, adding to the devastation.
Action By Authorities
Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tessori has taken a strong stance against Karachi’s rampant dumper mafia, declaring that if given control over the city’s Deputy Inspector General (DIG) for just a week, he would hold full accountability for any dumper-related accidents—and if one were to occur, he would resign.
Speaking at a public gathering in Hyderabad on Tuesday, Tessori highlighted several critical issues facing the city and announced initiatives aimed at its development.
Expressing frustration over the situation in Karachi, he stated, “The people have been deceived for too long, and now these dumpers are endangering our children’s lives.”
Tessori also asserted that if Karachi’s mayor were placed under his authority, he could ensure the restoration of the city’s old roads without delay.
Furthermore, in what was widely perceived as a concession to influential transport associations, the Sindh government relaxed the ban on heavy vehicle movement by an hour in February, citing public and transport sector convenience.
A high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah led to a revision in the timing, allowing heavy traffic to operate from 10 pm to 6 am instead of the previous 11 pm to 6 am restriction.
Addressing a press conference to announce the decision, Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon explained that while heavy vehicles were previously restricted from entering Karachi between 11 pm and 6 am, logistical challenges had led to a reassessment.
Memon further announced that the provincial government had introduced mandatory fitness certifications for all heavy vehicles and had abolished charged parking across Karachi. He added that vehicles entering Sindh from other provinces would now be required to obtain a fitness certificate from Sindh authorities, as certificates issued by Punjab, Balochistan, or Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would no longer be considered valid. He noted that Punjab had already implemented a similar rule.
A 30-day grace period was granted for heavy vehicle owners to secure their fitness certifications. In the first phase, all heavy vehicles—including trailers, tankers, buses, and dumpers—were required to undergo thorough inspection and verification by the transport department. Memon warned that any unregistered vehicle would be confiscated, regardless of its origin.
Additionally, the Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation implemented a barcode system for registered water tankers operating from authorized hydrants. Memon emphasized that only vehicles meeting fitness standards would receive these barcodes, and those operating without one would also face confiscation.
He urged individuals involved in the water transportation business to register their vehicles with the water utility, stating, “No unregistered vehicle will be permitted to operate in the city.”
A City Held Hostage by Heavy Vehicles
Another day, another avoidable tragedy on Karachi’s roads. This latest deadly crash near Malir Halt brings the total number of traffic fatalities in the city this year to 214. Heavy vehicles alone have claimed 68 lives in just 83 days—17 crushed under dumpers, 24 by trailers, 14 by water tankers, five by Mazda trucks, and eight by buses. And if that wasn’t alarming enough, Karachi witnessed 99 major accidents in the first 37 days of 2025, leaving 39 people dead. The numbers paint a gruesome picture, yet the government’s response remains lukewarm at best.
How many more people must die before Karachi’s roads become safer? Why does a city of over 20 million people feel like an open slaughterhouse when it comes to traffic accidents? The government’s latest move—relaxing the ban on heavy vehicles by one hour—feels like a cruel joke. If anything, these reckless juggernauts should be banned from city roads entirely during peak hours, not given more leeway.
The government claims that adjusting the time restrictions was done for the “convenience” of the public and transporters. But whose convenience are we really talking about? Certainly not the pedestrians, motorcyclists, and commuters who face daily threats from these behemoths. The very fact that heavy vehicles dominate Karachi’s roads throughout the day—despite supposed restrictions—proves just how ineffective these policies are. The authorities have repeatedly failed to enforce bans, allowing these death machines to roam freely, unchecked and unaccountable.
Karachi’s roads aren’t just dangerous—they are deadly. The statistics make that painfully clear. But numbers don’t tell the full story. Behind each of these deaths is a family shattered, dreams crushed, and futures stolen. A father who never made it home, a mother lost in an instant, a child who will never grow up.
And yet, beyond momentary outrage, life goes on as usual. The government issues statements, authorities conduct half-hearted inspections, and transporters continue their reckless rampage. It’s a cycle of negligence and impunity that repeats itself endlessly.
This is a developing story and we will post updates as and when available.
Sources: Aaj News, Dawn, Tribune
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