Faisal Movers’ operations have been suspended for 30 days by the National Highways and Highways Police (NHMP), Northern Highway Region, following a tragic accident on 30 December 2024.
The accident killed 11 people and injured 14 others, prompting NHMP to impose strict penalties for safety violations.
The accident occurred on the M-14 highway of CPEC, where the bus, which was on its way from Bahawalpur to Islamabad, overturned due to driver fatigue.
The Deputy Inspector General of Police, Northern Expressway Region, cited multiple violations of safety regulations and operating protocols by the company and its driver in the suspension order.
An NHMP investigation revealed that the bus was operating on an unauthorized route. While it was allowed to travel from Kot Mithan (Rajanpur) to Rawalpindi, the bus was found operating illegally on the CPEC M-14 highway.
In addition, NHMP did not have access to the bus’s tracking device for monitoring, a violation of mandatory safety protocols.
Tracker data, reviewed after the accident, indicated that the bus was traveling at 112 km/h, exceeding the speed limits on the highway. The investigation also highlighted that only one driver had been appointed, breaching NHMP regulations by driving continuously for more than five hours.
The company’s claim that a tire blowout caused the accident has been invalidated by evidence of these violations.
The suspension, which is effective from December 31, 2024 to January 29, 2025, prohibits Faisal Movers from operating within the northern zone of the expressway.
NHMP has clarified that operations will only resume if the company complies with the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) issued in August 2021.