Karachi to bid farewell to smoke-emiiting vehicles

Islamabad, Jan 25 (UNI) Smoke-emitting and noise-creating vehicles await a tough time moving around in the Karachi city of Pakistan.

The Sindh High Court has asked federal law officer to seek recommendations from federal government as well as State Bank of Pakistan for phasing out smoke-emitting and noise-creating vehicles in a bid to control pollution in the city.

The direction came on the petition moved by a lawyer Islamuddin against such vehicles and illegal bus terminals in the city, The News reported.

Petitioner Islamuddin contended that despite issuance of several directions to traffic police regarding smoke-emitting vehicles, defective rickshaws, smoke-emitting buses and coaches were plying on the roads.

The court emphasised that certain actions are required by the federal government as policy issue will be involved for giving instructions to banks for making their loan procedure lucrative for rickshaws and other public transport so that they could convert their smoke-emitting vehicles.

The court pointed out that proper mechanism has to devised for replacing two-stroke engines by four-stroke and the induction of the same be encouraged.

It also observed that problems of noise and smoke-emission are not only being caused by two-stroke rickshaws but also by other public transport vehicles as oil is being used in two stroke engines.

Giving details regarding the compliance of court order, Traffic police submitted detailed report regarding action taken against noise and smoke emitting vehicles.

According to the report, as many as 1,142 smoke-emitting vehicles, including buses, mini-buses, coaches, trucks and trailers were detained for three days from November 20, 2007 to January 22, 2008, while nine vehicles were detained for seven days during the said period.

The next hearing of the case has been adjourned till March 4.

UNI XC AKJ HS1412