Federal Minister Chairs Key Meeting on Road Safety and Infrastructure Development
ISLAMABAD – Federal Minister for Board of Investment, Communications, and Privatization Abdul Aleem Khan chaired a crucial meeting to discuss road safety, emergency services, and infrastructure development across the country, emphasizing urgent measures for improving the safety of motorways and highways.
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Key Directives and Actions:
- Safety and Security Plan: Minister Abdul Aleem Khan directed the National Highway Authority (NHA) to devise a comprehensive Safety and Security Plan for all motorways and highways, including the key GT Road. The plan should include immediate response protocols in the event of accidents, with the deployment of rescue helicopters across all provinces.
- Ambulance Services: The minister stressed the importance of life-saving measures, ordering that ambulance services should be implemented on the lines of the Rescue 1122 service. He instructed the NHA to identify strategic locations for emergency service centers stretching from Karachi to Peshawar and across Balochistan.
- Emergency Action Plan Deadline: A one-week deadline was set for the NHA to prepare an emergency action plan to ensure swift and effective responses to accidents.
- Axle Load Violations: In an effort to reduce accidents caused by overloaded vehicles, the minister announced a drastic 1,000% increase in fines for axle load violations. He underscored that the government would adopt a zero-tolerance policy toward overloading, with no leniency for violators.
- Barrier-Free Roads: Abdul Aleem Khan instructed the NHA to make all roads barrier-free, taking inspiration from the successful model of the Lahore-Sialkot Motorway.
- Public Awareness Campaign: To raise awareness about road safety, the minister called for an extensive media campaign across print and electronic platforms, urging the public to adopt safer road practices.
- Action Against Accident-Prone Vehicles: The minister ordered action against vehicles that repeatedly cause accidents and called for the immediate deployment of motorway police to patrol areas lacking such services.
Ongoing Projects and Future Plans:
- Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway: Discussions were held on the construction of the Hyderabad-Sukkur Motorway, with various proposals under review to address the region’s transportation needs.
- Sialkot-Kharian Motorway: Focus was also given to resolving pending issues surrounding the Sialkot-Kharian Motorway project, aiming to streamline the development process and ensure timely completion.
Conclusion:
The meeting, which involved senior officials including the federal secretary for communications and the chairman of NHA, concluded with an emphasis on the urgency of improving road infrastructure and safety measures. Minister Abdul Aleem Khan reaffirmed the government’s commitment to protecting lives and ensuring that all highways and motorways are equipped with the necessary emergency services and infrastructure to save lives and prevent accidents.
