SIALKOT
The traffic signals donated by the Sialkot investors years ago have been left non-functional in almost all the commercial and congested areas of Sialkot city for years. No person from the police, TMA nor the business community has ever bothered to get these signals functional. About a decade ago, Sialkot exporters had provided these signals to the traffic police for their installation in Sialkot city’s various congested , commercial and industrial areas including Lorry Adda Sialkot, Gulistan Chowk, Kashmir Road, China Chowk, Allama Iqbal Chowk, Shahabpura Chowk, Jail Road, Kutchery Chowk, Bhed Pulli, Khawaja Safdar Bridge, Circular Road, Talaab Sheikh Maula Bukhash and Naikapura-Hajipura Chowk.
Due to non-maintenance, all the traffic signals first became out of order and later disappeared. The traffic police, TMA and the exporters kept holding each other responsible for the rectification of the signals.
When contacted, DSP (Traffic) Waseem Akhtar said that the rectification of the signals was responsibility of the Tehsil Municipal Administration (TMA). He said that the traffic police had repeatedly asked the Sialkot TMA for the purpose but to no avail. He said that the Sialkot city had been lying without the traffic signals. The officials concerned said that the Sialkot exporters, who had donated these signals were responsible for the rectification or replacement of the signals. They said that the TMA had no funds for the purpose.
On the other hand, the exporters expressed grave concern over the negligence of officials of Sialkot TMA and traffic police.