KARACHI: The Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) has announced plans to impose a fine of Rs15,000 on motorists found driving in the wrong direction on the city’s main roads, The News reported. 

The measure is aimed at curbing traffic violations and enhancing public safety and will be enforced by City Wardens.

The initiative follows directives from Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab and the Karachi Task Force. A formal resolution endorsing the fine will be tabled at the upcoming KMC council meeting for approval and implementation.

Wahab said that strict action against such violations is necessary to prevent accidents and ensure smoother traffic flow. The KMC urged all motorists and motorcyclists to adhere to the traffic regulations and cooperate with the enforcement personnel to help maintain road safety across the city.

Karachi witnessed a tragic and alarming surge in road accidents in February 2025, claiming the lives of 73 people, including eight women and five children. In addition, over 700 individuals sustained serious injuries, among them more than 90 women. 

This disturbing trend has continued since, with cumulative figures up to April 10 showing that 138 people have lost their lives, including 16 women and 14 children, while more than 1,500 have been injured, including over 160 women.

According to officials at the Edhi Information Bureau, these numbers only account for serious injuries reported at some leading tertiary-care health facilities. 

In reality, more than 500 people, mostly motorcyclists, are rushed daily to public and private health facilities across the city with broken bones and other injuries sustained in traffic accidents on Karachi’s increasingly killer roads.

In February alone, the city averaged 2.5 fatalities and 25 injuries per day, underscoring the growing crisis caused by careless drivers, unchecked movement of massive dumpers, and poor traffic enforcement.