RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: Karachi Mayor Wasim Akhtar on Tuesday said some 500 city wardens would assist the police in regulating the flow of traffic, particularly during peak hours in the holy month of Ramazan.

Presiding over a meeting at his office to review the traffic plan for the holy month, the Mayor said over 1000 city wardens would perform duties at important commercial centres, mosques and traveeh places during the sacred month of Ramazan.

Wasim directed the relevant authorities to remove the roadside stalls and pushcarts to ensure smooth flow of traffic. He also asked the officials of various civic departments to develop strong coordination among each other and in this connection, focal persons be appointed to facilitate the citizens in Ramazan.

He also asked Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KW&SB) and K-Electric to ensure uninterrupted water and electricity supply to the citizens in the scorching days of the summer.

He directed the director of city warden department to ensure presence of staff on their duty at the designated locations in the city.

The meeting was attended by chairman Baldia East Moeed Anwar, vice chairman Baldia Central Syed Shakir Ali, additional deputy commissioner West Sameeullah Khan, SSP South Traffic Abdullah Ahmad, SSP West Asif Ahmad, SSP Korangi Zulfiqar Mehr, SP Traffic Saddar Shakeeb, Senior Director Anti-Encroachment Basheer Siddiqui, Director Charged Parking Abdul Khalid and others.

On the other hand, citizens complained that they are facing severe hardships due to massive gridlock on the major city thoroughfares because the traffic police have failed to chalk out mechanism to regulate flow of traffic in the metropolis. M A Jinnah Road, Saddar, Soldier Bazaar, II Chundrigar Road and adjacent thoroughfares remain the most affected areas during peak hours where long queues of vehicles, including passenger busses, cars, motorcycles are witnessed. Excavation of roads by the civic authorities also caused traffic jam issues in Saddar and adjacent areas, nowadays.