Majority of the Karachiites
have close acquaintance with the public buses plying on the roads of Karachi
city. Apparently these buses are tawdrily decorated with a lot of stuff like
strings of colorful beads hanging from the roof in endless loops, various
colours of Parandas (Tied threads used by women for hair dressing particularly
in the villages) and wind shield framed with “Chamak pati” along with the
brilliant artistic work for instance, peacock with its erectile fan like
feathers, pigeons and flower vases. The title of the bus is usually written on
red hearts painted on the windscreen. The bus drivers are worthy of true
appreciation who can easily see through these foggy windscreens. On the right
top over the steering are a set of buttons, for different loud Motor-horns. The
driver sounds the horn repeatedly to warn the pedestrians and other vehicles to
get out of his way. Sometimes the horn button is broken and to use it he holds
two exposed wires together.
The estimated population of Karachi is 15 million number of buses is much
less than the demand consequently, these buses are often over crowded.These
overloaded buses are tilted to the left side and increase the chance of dropping
their passengers on the road particularly when they take peril turns. The bus
conductor(bus boys who collect fares) facilitate the passengers by continuously
shouting and announcing the names of the bus stops because the passengers are
unable to see their own body parts in these over thronged buses. During summer
season these suffocated buses get worst when the smell inside becomes
unendurable. The bus never stops any where for passengers, bus driver only slows
down the bus. The passengers have to actually jump in or out of the bus. As soon
as their feet are off or on the bus the conductor taps the gate and it picks up
the speed once again.
Women are 52% of Pakistan’s population but only four seats are allocated for
them in the public buses including one over the engine. In spite of the less
number of seats and space available for females, male passengers sometimes
occupy this compartment as well. The most uncomfortable seats for women are
those whose backs are attached to the men’s compartment because women on these
seats are usually molested by poking fingers and groping hands. To avoid these
harassments the women have to keep their back straight and sit on the foremost
part of the seat, no matter how uneasy this ride may be. Almost all the women
keep their faces towards the windscreen in order to avoid eye contact with the
men at the back because most of them stare the ladies continuously throughout
the ride.
Moreover, those people who daily depend on public buses for transportation are
fortunate enough if they reach home safely without facing any mishap. Although
bus accidents have certain common denominators that are: Speeding, reckless
passing, failure to obey traffic laws, overworked & exhausted drivers racing
each other to pick up passengers.
Our Government should take necessary steps and the responsible officials ought
to focus their attention rightly on the person behind the steering wheel. In the
meanwhile, the owners must maintain their vehicles adequately and the old
damaged buses should be replaced by the new ones.Furthermore, the revival of
Karachi Circular Railway may also provide better transportation facility to the
people of Karachi and can minimize the traffic problems of the city.