Traffic police to train SSWMB drivers in transporting waste

The Karachi traffic police will provide training to truck and dumper drivers of the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB) in transporting waste from the garbage transfer stations to the landfill sites.

SSWMB Managing Director Syed Imtiaz Ali Shah made this announcement during a meeting on Saturday. He also instructed drivers not to speed on fast tracks, and to ensure their vehicles are covered with tarpaulins to prevent waste and water from spilling onto the roads, which can cause inconvenience to other road users and residents.

Traffic police chief DIG Ahmed Nawaz Cheema emphasised during the meeting that private company officials must install radio-frequency identification systems in all vehicles to enable monitoring, and the data of both drivers and waste-carrying trucks/dumpers should be shared with the traffic police.

DIG Cheema said that legal action would be taken against drivers if they are found speeding on fast tracks. He stressed that all drivers must possess valid driving licences and a police verification certificate.

He said that a training schedule will be prepared for drivers to ensure compliance with these directives. Drivers were also reminded to keep their vehicles clean, and to ensure their vehicle registration numbers are clearly visible.

The meeting also decided that truck and dumper movement should be limited during peak traffic hours, and strict adherence to traffic laws is essential. Private company officials assured that all drivers would be trained in traffic regulations, and police verification and licence checks would be mandatory during the hiring process.

They also committed to ensuring that drivers do not speed on fast tracks and agreed to adjust waste transportation timings to reduce any impact on traffic flow. The meeting was also attended by SSWMB Operations Executive Director Tariq Nizamani.