National Highways and Motorway Police has imposed a ban on vehicles carrying sacrificial animals from entering motorways ahead of Eid ul Adha, citing growing safety concerns and traffic disruptions during the festive season.
Officials said overloaded, unfit and improperly loaded vehicles transporting animals often trigger accidents and severe congestion on major highways during Eid days.
Authorities confirmed that motorway police will divert such vehicles to alternative routes instead of allowing them onto motorways.
According to officials, authorities introduced the restrictions after several past incidents involving animal transport vehicles caused major accidents, financial losses and casualties.
The decision comes as livestock movement intensifies across Pakistan before Eid ul Adha, one of the country’s busiest travel periods.
Every year, thousands of people transport sacrificial animals from cattle markets to cities and residential areas using mini-trucks, pickup vehicles and vans.
Officials said the sudden rise in livestock transportation creates serious traffic and safety challenges, particularly on high-speed motorway networks.
Checkpoints Planned Near Motorway Entrances
Motorway police have also requested assistance from Punjab Police and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police to enforce the restrictions effectively.
Authorities plan to establish checkpoints near motorway entry points and cattle markets to stop restricted vehicles before they enter major highways.
Officials said the move aims to protect regular commuters travelling during the Eid holidays.
“Overloaded, unfit and improperly loaded vehicles transporting animals often cause traffic accidents and congestion,” officials stated while explaining the decision.
The police also warned transporters against unsafe loading practices that obstruct visibility, reduce vehicle stability and increase rollover risks.
Pakistan witnesses a sharp rise in road traffic before Eid ul Adha as families travel between cities and transport sacrificial animals to urban centres.
Law enforcement agencies often increase patrols, monitoring and traffic management operations during this period.
Eid Travel Pressure Increases Across Pakistan
Authorities expect exceptionally heavy traffic on motorways this year after Pakistan announced Eid ul Adha celebrations for May 27.
Cattle markets in cities including Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Peshawar have already started witnessing increased public activity.
Traffic experts say animal transport vehicles frequently move slowly, occupy multiple lanes and create dangerous driving conditions on motorways designed for high-speed traffic.
Officials believe diverting livestock vehicles to alternative roads could reduce accident risks and improve travel flow during the Eid holidays.
The National Highways and Motorway Police has repeatedly launched awareness campaigns in recent years urging drivers to avoid overloading vehicles and follow traffic regulations during festive seasons.
Analysts say authorities now face the challenge of balancing public convenience, livestock transportation and road safety during one of Pakistan’s busiest annual travel periods.
Motorway police have urged travellers to cooperate with law enforcement personnel and follow alternative traffic plans issued during Eid operations.
