SHIKARPUR: At least seven people were killed and six others injured when a truck veered off course, struck an electric pole, and ran over bystanders sleeping along the National Highway bypass near Shikarpur on Saturday, police said.
According to officials, the truck — loaded with vegetables — lost control before crashing into the pole and ploughing into local farmers resting by the roadside. Rescue teams and police shifted the bodies and injured to Civil Hospital Shikarpur.
Authorities said an investigation was under way to determine the cause of the crash.
The tragedy comes days after two deadly accidents in Balochistan that claimed 13 lives, including women and children, and left dozens injured. Six people died and 17 were hurt when a passenger coach collided with a truck near Zero Point in Lasbela’s Uthal, while seven others were killed and 16 injured in a crash on the Hub–Winder highway.
Fatal road accidents remain alarmingly common in Pakistan, where poor road infrastructure, driver fatigue, and lax enforcement of traffic laws continue to take a heavy toll.
In response to mounting road fatalities, the Sindh government recently introduced a stricter traffic penalty regime by amending the Twelfth Schedule under Section 121-A of the Motor Vehicles Ordinance, 1965.
Provincial Transport Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said the revised system imposes higher fines and demerit points for violations such as overspeeding, wrong-way driving, overloading, and driving without a licence.
Overspeeding fines have been raised to Rs5,000 for motorcycles, Rs15,000 for cars, and Rs20,000 for heavy transport vehicles, each carrying eight demerit points. Driving without a licence will now draw a penalty of up to Rs50,000 and six points, while reckless driving will incur Rs25,000 and eight points. The new system also targets one-wheeling, tinted windows, and unsafe passenger transport.
