Licenses of commercial drivers to be revised. Aleem khan
Islamabad: The Federal Minister for Communications, Abdul Aleem Khan, has issued instructions to automate all motorways, improve monitoring and surveillance systems for road safety, and implement key measures such as the M-tag. He chaired a joint meeting with the National Highway Authority (NHA) and the Motorways and Highways Police to discuss these matters.
Minister Abdul Aleem Khan stressed that it should be mandatory for all commercial vehicles to undergo physical fitness checks before entering the motorways. Similarly, no buses should operate on highways without the necessary certification. Furthermore, overloading of commercial vehicles will not be allowed under any circumstances.OGRA suspends 5 more OMCs licenses
The Motorway Police has been instructed to enforce strict checks on buses, and if the number of passengers exceeds the permitted limit, the bus should be unloaded immediately at the same location.
Minister Abdul Aleem Khan also announced that within the next three months, the licenses of all commercial drivers will be re-verified. To raise public awareness about these new policies, both the NHA and the Motorway Police will launch separate media campaigns to ensure effective promotion.
Additionally, the Minister directed the IG of Motorways and Highways Police to personally engage with transporters and inform them about the new measures. He reiterated that enhancing the safety of national highways is a top priority. He added that as long as officers remain diligent, continuous improvements will follow.
During the meeting, the Minister highlighted that recent actions by the NHA have not only boosted revenue but have also contributed to a decrease in instances of overspeeding on the motorways.
The Minister directed the Secretary for Communications, the Chairman of NHA, and the Inspector General of Motorway Police to set up monitoring cells in their respective offices under a unified system, allowing for instant access to data and videos of all motorways and highways at the click of a button. He emphasized the use of Artificial Intelligence and advanced technology in this process.
At the meeting, the IG of Motorways reported that, following the Minister’s directives, 76 FIRs had been filed for overspeeding, leading to a noticeable reduction in such incidents. The Chairman of NHA also presented a report detailing the decrease in thefts of safety barriers along the motorways.
