KARACHI: The driver of a runaway dumper truck that endangered public safety on Karachi's Sharea Faisal has surrendered and been arrested, police confirmed on Monday. The alarming incident, captured in a viral video, showed the dumper ramming into a police vehicle and fleeing, triggering widespread outrage across social media.
In response to the footage, which highlighted the growing threat of reckless heavy vehicle drivers, Karachi Traffic Police launched a citywide crackdown. Authorities seized 27 dumper trucks and issued fines to 142 drivers under sections 99/113 of the 1965 Motor Vehicles Ordinance.
According to police, the arrested driver claimed he was fleeing from a group of motorcyclists who he feared would torch his vehicle—a concern rooted in recent mob violence targeting heavy vehicles involved in fatal accidents. This reflects the rising public frustration over the spike in road fatalities in Karachi, with over 250 deaths reported this year. Alarmingly, at least 70 of those involved dumpers, water tankers, or trailers.
Initially, the Dumper Association had agreed to cooperate with authorities by handing over the driver and vehicle but later reneged on its promise. This led police to intensify their crackdown, highlighting the challenges in regulating the heavy transport sector.
In light of public anger and safety concerns, the Sindh government has imposed a daytime ban on heavy transport vehicles (HTVs) within city limits and introduced a 30 km/h speed limit for them. However, authorities admit that enforcement remains a major hurdle, with limited resources and resistance from the transport lobby.
The incident has reignited debates over urban road safety, and residents are now calling for stricter regulations and consistent enforcement to prevent further tragedies on Karachi’s roads.
