Staff Correspondent
BOONI: Vehicle overloading is a serious road safety concern, but for residents of remote valleys in Upper Chitral, including Yarkhun, carrying extra luggage on public transport is often a necessity rather than a deliberate violation of traffic rules.
Police frequently initiate action against overloaded vehicles, mostly after receiving public complaints, but there is no permanent solution to the issue.
Acting on the instructions of District Police Officer (DPO) Zia Hassan, PSP, DSP Headquarters Amir Shah and traffic police personnel stopped a taxi vehicle and imposed a fine on the driver.
While enforcing traffic regulations is essential to preventing accidents and protecting passengers, residents of remote areas say the lack of adequate public transport leaves them with limited alternatives.
People travelling to Yarkhun and other far-flung areas usually visit Booni, Chitral city or while returning from other cities purchase groceries, food supplies and other daily necessities.
On their return journeys from Chitral and Booni, they carry these essential household items in Land Cruiser taxis, which are among the main modes of public transport available in the area.
With limited transport services and few alternative arrangements, passengers and drivers often face difficult choices when transporting essential goods to their villages.
Overloading, particularly on narrow and mountainous roads, can increase the risk of accidents, affect vehicle stability and endanger passengers.
However, imposing fines without addressing the underlying transport shortage may further burden communities that already face difficulties accessing basic facilities.
The situation calls for a balanced approach that combines strict enforcement of road safety standards with practical solutions to the region’s transport challenges.
The district administration and transport authorities need to assess the shortage of public transport in remote valleys and explore options such as increasing passenger and goods transport services, introducing designated cargo arrangements and ensuring that vehicles operate within safe loading limits.
Police maintain that action against traffic violations, particularly overloading, will continue to ensure public safety.
However, for residents of Yarkhun and other remote areas, safer roads must also mean better transport facilities and reliable access to essential supplies.
The challenge for the authorities is to enforce traffic laws without ignoring the ground realities of communities where public transport remains scarce and a Land Cruiser taxi is often the only available link to the outside world.
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