KARACHI — A massive traffic jam brought Karachi’s MA Jinnah Road to a standstill on Wednesday evening, leaving commuters stranded for hours as police closed sections of the city’s main artery near Numaish Chowrangi due to security concerns.
Thousands of motorists and motorcyclists found themselves stuck in long queues during the peak rush hour, as alternative routes became choked with vehicles following the closure. Frustrated citizens described the situation as “unbearable,” with many unable to reach their destinations on time.
According to traffic officials, the decision to close part of MA Jinnah Road was made for security reasons. However, the move quickly triggered citywide congestion, forcing the Karachi Traffic Police to issue multiple diversions a measure that did little to ease the chaos.
Karachi Traffic Police Deputy Inspector General Pir Mohammed Shah told that all available officers had been deployed on major routes to manage the situation. He acknowledged that the partial road closure was the main cause of the disruption and admitted that commuters were facing severe inconvenience.
As complaints poured in from across the city, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah took notice of the situation and directed immediate action to restore normal traffic flow. He instructed the Karachi police chief to ensure that the affected routes were reopened without delay.
“Traffic police must be fully mobilized to clear the gridlocks,” CM Shah said, demanding a detailed situation report and warning that strict action would be taken against any officer found negligent.
“Wherever there is a traffic jam, the responsible officers will face consequences,” the chief minister cautioned, urging swift steps to relieve the public’s hardship.
