Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon announced that the Sindh government is taking proactive measures to resolve Karachi’s traffic and transport challenges, address drug-related concerns, and tighten tax compliance. During a press conference on Thursday, Minister Memon outlined a range of initiatives, from relocating illegal bus terminals to launching a crackdown on drug trafficking and unregistered vehicles.
Minister Memon detailed the recent dismantling of illegal bus stands that had operated for decades in Karachi, now centralized at the new Karachi Bus Terminal. A complimentary shuttle service has been introduced to transport passengers to the terminal. The Sindh government is also progressing with the Red Line and Yellow Line BRT projects to improve Karachi’s public transport infrastructure, with the Green Line service set to transition to Sindh’s jurisdiction by December 2024. The Excise Department has been actively targeting unregistered and tax-defaulting vehicles across Sindh, inspecting over 22,000 vehicles since the beginning of November.
Of these, 115 vehicles were unregistered, 1,304 were tax defaulters, and a significant amount of unpaid taxes and fines were collected. “For the first time in Pakistan’s history, Sindh is set to enforce a strict no-tolerance policy for unregistered vehicles,” Memon announced, adding that legislation for this has been presented in the Assembly.
In support of flood victims, Sindh will also hold its second auction for premium vehicle number plates in December, open to participants nationwide. Funds raised from this initiative will go toward constructing homes for flood-affected families under the Sindh People’s Housing Foundation (SPHF), a project led by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
The Excise Narcotics Control Wing has also ramped up efforts against drug trafficking, with plans for a major crackdown across Karachi and Hyderabad. “The environment is about to become increasingly challenging for drug dealers and users,” Memon warned. Initial operations have already led to arrests within universities, and the government has expanded forces to intensify these efforts. He urged parents to closely monitor their children’s activities, emphasizing that no one involved in drug trafficking would be spared, whether in private gatherings or public spaces.
Acting on directives from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Sindh Police have launched an operation targeting vehicles with illegal license plates, tinted windows, and police lights.
As of this week, 20 vehicles have been seized, 18 individuals detained, and fines totaling 15.6 lakh rupees have been imposed. The crackdown has also led to the confiscation of 29 illegal weapons and the arrest of 34 suspects. In response to a question, Minister Memon criticized PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s call for a protest on November 24, questioning its purpose. He expressed disapproval of Khan’s political tactics, alleging that the PTI’s slogans and rhetoric have only created division, adding that the PTI leadership is fostering an environment of unrest and intolerance.
Memon also condemned PTI’s previous attempts to “mislead the public” on foreign relations issues, noting the party’s recent lobbying efforts for foreign support. The Senior Minister also addressed the issue of locally manufactured drugs, urged citizens to avoid any involvement in illegal activities and promising that the crackdown on narcotics would persist across Sindh.
