Karachi Traffic Signals Breakdown Caused By Cable Thefts

Thirty-three traffic signals in Karachi are out of service due to cable theft, worsening road congestion and commuter delays.

NationPulse Desk

Oct 19, 2026 · 4:02 PM 1 min read

Key takeaways

Cable and equipment theft left 33 out of 94 traffic signals broken in Karachi.

Repairs were halted for over a year due to funding shortages, with contractors owed more than Rs. 10 million.

The Sindh government released Rs. 100 million to the Karachi commissioner's office to fix signals and add road markings.

Thieves stole cables from seven newly repaired signals, shutting them down again.

Cable and equipment theft has knocked out 33 traffic signals out of 94 in Karachi, intensifying traffic jams on major routes and interfering with everyday travel. Traffic officers frequently direct traffic by hand at intersections where the lights have failed, though personnel are sometimes missing.

According to the Traffic Engineering Bureau of the Karachi Development Authority, fixing the lights stayed paused for more than twelve months due to a lack of money, and contractors are owed upwards of Rs. 10 million. The bureau stated that equipment and cable theft also disabled signals at 26 extra spots.

The Sindh government disbursed Rs. 10 million to the office of the Karachi commissioner following instructions from the chief minister. This money allowed workers to fix 20 signals, containing five automated ones, and put up traffic signs and road markings. Yet, thieves subsequently stripped cables from seven fixed signals, making them stop working once more.

Impacted spots featured Ziauddin Road close to Lily Bridge, Boat Basin Chowrangi, the intersection of Sir Syed Khalid bin Walid Road, Akbar Road, Court Road, and Singer Chowrangi. According to reports, cables along Ziauddin Road were stolen on three occasions.

Additional areas featuring broken signals involved Makki Masjid, Yaseenabad, Atrium Mall, Karachi Grammar School, Shahrah-e-Iraq, Albela Chowrangi, Guru Mandir, Banuri Town Mosque, II Chundrigar Road near Denso Hall, Aram Bagh, and Shalimar Chowk.

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