Prevention is the key
Without a doubt Pakistan’s roads are the world’s most dangerous place for the commuters of public transport. Travel in rickety old vehicles of unknown vintage, which are usually driven with a wild abandon, has unfortunately frequently turned into yet another sudden and unnatural mode of transportation to the hereafter. The main culprit in the recent traffic fatalities is the gas cylinder, fitted in sub-standard and shoddy manner, illegally packed three or four together in a single vehicle for maximum gain and used well beyond its shelf life by illiterate drivers or owners. The latest tragedy occurred on Monday, when thirteen people, including a two year old child, were burnt alive near Chiniot when their van caught fire and exploded after a fuel leak from three gas cylinders fixed on the underside of the wagon. A more horrific and ghastly death is difficult to imagine. On May 24 this year, sixteen school children and their teacher had also been killed and seven students injured in Gujrat after a van carrying 24 children caught fire when the driver reportedly attempted to switch his dual-fuel vehicle from gas to petrol. The subsequent explosion resulted in this irreparable and traumatic loss for the families of the innocent child victims.
In fact, death by cylinder has become a regular feature of our public transport system, and the unfortunate commuters continue to suffer whether in Larkana, Faisalabad or elsewhere. Even otherwise, Pakistan has the world’s worst record as far as fatal road accidents are concerned, a dubious and deadly distinction. The poor state of the roads, which are often dug up and then forgotten, the ill-maintained vehicles which are squeezed to the last drop like milch cows without a dime being spent on them, the Formula One mindset of the drivers, and their sudden tendency to regard their creaking vehicle as a jet aircraft at full throttle, are also to blame for the country’s dangerous roads. But the worst culprit is sheer negligence on the part of the driver, the conductor and the commuters alike.
With the shortfall in gas due to declining reserves, the menace of the gas cylinder is likely to recede as the supply to the CNG stations is gradually tapered off. But this might take some time or it may never happen in fact, as the powerful owner lobby might force the government to import gas in some other form to keep their highly profitable ventures running. It is therefore of the essence that the government enact strict laws regarding the safety of the gas cylinders being installed in the public transport vehicles and follow it up with an effective checking and monitoring mechanism to avert future mishaps. All the expressions of deep grief and sorrow expressed after the event by those in positions of power cannot assuage the deep sense of loss of the families of the victims. Prevention is the key.
Nicely put. One can even appreciate the well meant sentiments behind the editorial. However this will do as much good as can be conveyed by the Urdu phrase" playing flute before a cow" because we are living in a totally dysfunctional society.
However if the editors insist upon fighting lost causes then I urge a strongly worded piece on the total lack of regard for traffic rules on our roads. No one has any concept of one-way roads, 3, 4, 5 humans(?) on a motorbike is the norm, respecting traffic signals is laughable, etc,etc
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