Police Escort is Now Mandatory During Night on Major Motorway

Rahim Yar Khan police have launched escorted night convoys on the Sukkur-Multan Motorway (M-5) to ensure the safety of travelers amid threats from Katcha dacoit gangs. The security measure began this week following a rise in criminal activity targeting motorists in the region.

According to officials, police are now organizing convoys between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m., halting all vehicles at the Azampur service area located between Jamaldin Wali and Bhong.

Every thirty minutes, groups of vehicles are escorted by two armored police pickups through vulnerable sections of the motorway. For traffic heading north from Sukkur, the convoys operate from the Guddu interchange to Azampur.

This move comes after a major incident on September 5, when members of the Tanvir Indhar gang kidnapped 10 people from multiple vehicles on M-5 near Nawazabad in Sadiqabad tehsil. The abduction marked the first time Katcha gangs had directly accessed the Sukkur-Multan Motorway within Punjab’s boundaries.

Police implemented the convoy system after traffic on M-5 dropped sharply due to flood damage near Jalalpur Pirwala in September, but later increased when one lane was reopened through a diversion.

Rahim Yar Khan police spokesperson Zeeshan Randhawa said the force is prioritizing the protection of lives and property. He added that bulletproof vehicles and highly trained personnel equipped with modern weapons have been deployed to escort motorists safely through high-risk zones.