KARACHI: Two young men tragically lost their lives on Sunday when a trailer struck their motorcycle in the New Chali area, marking another deadly incident involving a heavy vehicle on Karachi’s roads.
According to police, the deceased were identified as Zaid and Noor Muhammad, both residents of Lyari’s Usmanabad. The close friends had left home for a casual ride when they were fatally hit. Deputy Inspector General (DIG) South Asad Raza confirmed that the trailer involved has been seized and its driver arrested.
Family members said Noor Muhammad worked in the utensil trade at Jodia Bazaar, while Zaid was a labourer in the fisheries sector. They expressed deep sorrow over the incident, blaming poor traffic management and a lack of regulation on the movement of heavy vehicles within the city.
This latest tragedy comes a day after another fatal accident in Baldia Town, where a four-year-old boy, Affan, was crushed by a speeding water tanker while playing near a local playground. The child’s uncle alleged that tanker operators had illegally occupied the area.
Karachi has seen a sharp rise in fatal road accidents, particularly involving heavy vehicles. In 2025 alone, over 250 lives have been lost in such incidents, with at least 70 deaths caused by trailers and tankers.
In response, the Sindh government introduced a daytime ban on heavy vehicles and mandatory fitness certifications for commercial transport. However, critics argue that enforcement is lax and ineffective.
The growing crisis has sparked political concern. Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) Chairman Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, ANP Sindh President Shahi Syed, and other leaders recently met to address the deteriorating situation. Siddiqui criticized the police for focusing more on motorcyclists than on enforcing heavy vehicle regulations, which leaves citizens feeling helpless and angry.
Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal, also of MQM-P, emphasized that the issue is administrative, not ethnic. He condemned reckless driving and urged the public to avoid violent responses to such tragedies, stressing the need for stronger enforcement and preventive measures.
