THE road traffic in Pakistan has always been unruly, but there was still some sense a decade or two ago. Violation of traffic rules started with crossing the red traffic light, and got worse with time. With the rising prices of petrol, motorcyclists started carrying more than two pillion riders.

The most worrying trend is driving in the opposite direction on one-way roads.

Instead of using the U-turn, drivers often take the wrong way to save on petrol.

Years ago, fewer people would do such a thing, but people now unabashedly do it as a matter of routine.

Sadly, the drivers of school vans full of young children, and parents with small children in their cars are also seen driving against one-way and crossing the red light.

What message are they leaving in the minds of the young? That it is okay to break the rules? The traffic mayhem observed in the federal capital is irritating. A visit to Lehtrar Road will give one a clear picture of the traffic condition in Islamabad.

Traffic officials appear helpless in controlling this mass mess, as offenders start arguing with them, with some even using aggressive tones simply because almost every second person in Islamabad is either a VIP or related to some VIP.

High-ranking officials, especially the chief traffic officers (CTOs), should come out of their offices and observe the offences themselves.

Within weeks, if not in days, the CTOs can set the traffic right by supervising the poor, helpless and overburdened traffic constables by imposing heavy fines on the offenders without being threatened.

Prof A.Yusuf Rawalpindi