KARACHI - Keeping in view increasing violation of traffic rules and to reduce the fatal accidents, the Transport Department of Sindh Government has proposed the revival of magisterial powers of regional/district transport authorities immediately, officials told The Nation. The Provincial department was also planning to establish driving schools in all 23 districts of the Sindh to give driving training and to ensure compliance to rules on traffic laws. Provincial Secretary of Transport Department Mumtaz Ali Shah told The Nation that presently 4 driving schools already existed in four districts Larkana, Karachi, Hyderabad and Khairpur, but these schools were closed in 1990 due to various reasons. The priority is being given to make functional these driving schools in current fiscal year while Rs30 million had been earmarked for this project, he said. He said Sindh transport department is going to initiate Benazir Bhutto Internship Programme in 23 districts of the province under which driving training would be provided to 50 educated youths from every districts of province. This programme would also be started from current financial year as Rs100 million had been set aside for this project in this fiscal year. At least Rs4000 to Rs6000 monthly stipend would be provided to the youths who will get six months driving training, he informed. In the second phase, the driving schools would be established in all the remaining districts of the province, Transport Secretary said. Describing the objective behind the idea of driving schools, Mumtaz Ali Shah said that presently there was no proper system or institutions for teaching hopefuls who want to get proper training of driving at government level. So, keeping lack of this system, the Transport Department has decided to open driving schools in every districts of the Sindh, he maintained. Furthermore, due to lack of proper training at government levels, the drivers get training of driving from the untrained drivers which results in fatal accidents and violation of rule, he said and informed that government has already proposed amendments in present traffic laws. The main objective of these proposed driving schools was to implement safety and security system. Transport Secretary further said that this sector has huge potential of human resources for creating employment opportunities but proper attention was not given to this sector which resulted in deterioration in transport sector. Present government has segregated the Transport Department from the Industry and Labour Departments, he said, adding that a study is being started to get information transport needs in coming 10 years while this study will cover the whole province including Karachi because the population is growing rapidly. He informed that at present 250 buses, 600 mini buses, 300 coaches, 25000 taxies, 25000 yellow-cabs and 50,000 rickshaws are running on the roads of Karachi but this they were not matching the actual needs of city.