The meeting of special committee constituted by the Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif to formulate an action plan to prevent road side traffic crashes and accidental casualties of the commuters and the bye passers was held here today at Civil Secretariat. Additional Chief Secretary Punjab Shamail Ahmad Khawaja who happens to be the Co-Convener of the committee, presided over the meeting which went through the enquiry reports of Chief Minister’s Inspection Team and formulated an action plan in the light of findings and recommendations in this regard besides suggesting effective measures to ensure its implementation.
Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Punjab Shamail Ahmad Khawaja and the other members of the committee noted with grief t6hat rash and negligent driving, mechanical faults in the old vehicles, road geometric design issues, lack of traffic sense and prevailing literacy among the drivers and last not the least, fake fitness certification from other provinces play main role in causing the deadly traffic accidents. The committee has recommended an action plan which comprises enactment of Punjab Road Safety Authority Act within next two months. The Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has already established Punjab Road Safety Authority through an executive order. This enactment will empower the traffic police and the traffic engineering staff to modernize drivers training, testing and licensing system besides improving road geometry designing and identification of black spots. The meeting has recommended that establishment of vehicles fitness and certification stations be established at district level while Directorate of Road Safety Audit would also be established in each district headquarter. The meeting decided to address the current gaps of law in the Motor Vehicle Ordinance and a new bill titled Punjab Road Safety Authority Act will separately introduced in the Punjab Assembly for promulgation. Both the laws will be implemented in the same time while establishment of standardized Schools of Motoring will also be promoted in private sector, the ACS added. It has also been suggested to provide monitory assistance as compensation to heirs of the victims of all involved in road traffic incidents whether they are commuters or the passer by citizens. Secretary Transport Punjab Cap. ® Saif Anjum, Secretary Law Dr. Abu Al Hasan Najmi, Additional Secretary (Police Affairs) Home Department Khawar Kamal, Additional Secretary Public Prosecution Muhammad Maqsood Ahmed, DIG Traffic Farooq Mazhar, AIG Dr. Muhammad Akbar, Director Transport Planning Unit Dr. Murtaza Bukhari and Director General Rescue 1122 Dr. Rizwan Naseer Mehmood Akhter participated.