KARACHI: Nine friends, including a Pakistani expatriate working in Saudi Arabia, lost their lives in a road accident when their vehicle collided with a truck on their way to Keenjhar Lake for a picnic, according to a senior police official on Wednesday.
Keenjhar Lake, the largest freshwater lake in Pakistan and a popular tourist destination is located in Thatta district of Sindh. The accident occurred on a single carriageway, after which the truck driver fled the scene.
“The driver, Muhammad Raees, initially fled the scene, but we arrested him,” said senior superintendent police Adil Chandio.
Investigations are underway to determine the authenticity of the driver’s license and the circumstances that led to the accident. Eight of the victims died on the spot, while the ninth succumbed to his injuries on the way to a nearby hospital.
“Abdullah, who worked as a driver in Saudi Arabia and had returned to Pakistan to celebrate Eid with family and friends, was among the deceased,” said his relative Muhammad Faisal.
“He was scheduled to return to his work in the coming week,” Faisal told Arab News, adding the deceased were good friends who had left home to enjoy some time together before the fatal accident claimed their lives.
Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah also took notice of the accident and ordered the deputy commissioner of Thatta to provide medical facilities to those who were injured.
In Pakistan, where roads are often in poor condition and traffic rules are frequently ignored, thousands of people lose their lives in accidents each year.
According to a report by the Bureau of Statistics, a staggering number of 51,256 people died in road accidents across the country between 2012 and 2021.
