LHC Seeks Replies on Mandatory Safety Features in Small Cars
The Lahore High Court has directed federal and Punjab governments to respond to a petition demanding mandatory safety features in small cars, including airbags and rear seat belts.
The Lahore High Court (LHC) has sought responses from the federal and Punjab governments over a petition demanding mandatory safety features in small cars sold in Pakistan. Justice Ajmal Zahid heard the public interest petition filed by a non-governmental organization in 2019 against car manufacturers for allegedly selling vehicles without essential safety equipment, including functional airbags.
The petition was filed following the death of the son of former federal minister Qamar Zaman Kaira in a road accident. It alleged that the airbags in the vehicle involved in the crash failed to deploy, and claimed that similar incidents have caused other deaths across the country.
During Tuesday's hearing, the petitioner's counsel, Advocate Safdar Shaheen Pirzada, argued that most cars manufactured and sold in Pakistan lack essential safety features, including airbags and rear seat belts. He told the court that the respondents had failed to submit their replies despite receiving court notices over the past seven years.
The lawyer asked the court to direct the respondents to provide detailed records of accidents involving defective or missing safety equipment and to compensate the victims' families. He also urged the court to order the country's two major car manufacturers to install essential safety features in their vehicles at their own expense.
The court adjourned the hearing for two weeks and directed responsible officers from the respondents to appear with their reports. The respondents include the federal government through the Engineering Development Board, the Punjab government, the provincial transport secretary, the inspector general of police, and two car manufacturers.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about vehicle safety standards in Pakistan, where many small cars are sold without basic features like airbags and rear seat belts. The court's directive for responses from key stakeholders could lead to regulatory changes affecting the auto industry and consumer safety.
