Briefing session: ‘Standardised driving schools a right step’

Minister says shortage of staff, patrolling vehicles at NHMP would be addressed at earliest.

ISLAMABAD: The Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Sheikh Aftab Ahmed has said that establishment of standardised driving training schools at district level by National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP) was a right step towards meeting future challenges of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor.

He was addressing a briefing session organised by NHMP at Police Lines Headquarters Islamabad on Monday.

This would also facilitate in reducing the number of accidents on highways and motorways, he said.

Ahmed said that NHMP was performing a commendable job in reducing risks to road users and was well demonstrated by the fact that its jurisdiction was expanding day by day.

The NHMP Inspector General said that the organisation has attained a status of lead traffic regulation and enforcement agency during the past 18 years. The minister was also informed that licensing system would get ISO-17024 shortly, he added.

Refresher courses have also been organised for drivers of heavy vehicles all over the country and e-ticketing system has been launched at motorways which would be extended to all highways, Ahmed was informed.

The minister was informed that motorway police was facing shortage of manpower and over 400 patrolling vehicles.

The problems would be addressed at the earliest and revising the pay packages was also need of the hour, Ahmed said.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 1^st, 2016.