Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi‘s Medical and Social Welfare Committee Organized a seminar on “Traffic, Accidents, Causes and Prevention” at the Haseena Moin Hall. The event commenced with a recitation from the Holy Quran.
Key speakers at the seminar included the chairman of the Medical and Social Welfare Committee) Dr. Qaiser Sajjad, Advisor to Governor Sindh Tariq Mustafa, Faisal Edhi, Kishwar Zahra, Dr. Irfan Siddiqui, Abdul Ghafoor Shoro, DIG Traffic Syed Pir Muhammad Shah, and Dr. Sabir Memon. A detailed presentation on road accidents and their prevention was delivered by Ali Suhag, trainer and researcher in charge of SPARC, Sindh Police.
DIG Traffic Syed Pir Muhammad Shah shared alarming statistics, stating that approximately 1.3 million people die annually in road accidents worldwide, with one person dying every two and a half minutes. He identified speeding, a lack of lane discipline, and overloading as the primary causes of accidents. He further noted that 55% of accident victims are motorcyclists and criticized the poor condition of vehicles in Karachi, emphasizing that transporters avoid investing in their fleets.
Advisor to the Governor Sindh, Tariq Mustafa, thanked the Arts Council for organizing the seminar and highlighted that ensuring adherence to traffic rules is not only the government’s responsibility but also a duty of every citizen. He warned that without collective responsibility, the situation will remain unchanged.
Faisal Edhi of the Edhi Foundation criticized the lack of affordable and efficient public transport in Karachi. He pointed out that most road signs are either missing or incorrectly placed. He also called for a stricter licensing process and emphasized that while there is enthusiasm for building flyovers, there is little attention given to proper road development.
Dr. Qaiser Sajjad expressed concern over public behavior, stating that people take pride in breaking signals and not wearing helmets. He highlighted issues such as underage driving, lack of medical fitness, and driving under the influence. He added that people are reluctant to educate themselves about traffic rules, and the consequences are evident in rising hospital costs and family tragedies.
Dr. Irfan Siddiqui suggested the construction of separate roads for tankers and trailers as a measure to prevent accidents. He also criticized the poor state of infrastructure in Sindh, describing it as a major contributor to road accidents. Dr. Sabir Memon stressed the importance of being responsible citizens. He said that trauma centers receive patients daily with injuries so severe that even modern science offers no solution. When the injured individual is the sole breadwinner, the burden on the family increases drastically. He further noted that a significant portion of the health budget is spent on accident-related treatments, which could otherwise be used for other diseases if preventive measures were taken. The seminar was attended by representatives from various hospitals, as well as notable social and political figures.
