Hundreds of additional cops to be hired to police CPEC

NHMP North Zone official says they would be creating new zones as well

RAWALPINDI: A top cop, responsible for policing a vast swathe of highways in the north of the country, on Thursday said that the government plans to recruit hundreds of additional police officials to cater to the increased traffic which is expected once the multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is complete.

National Highways and Motorways Police (NHMP) North Zone Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Abbas Ahsan was speaking at a meeting organised by a journalist organisation and the motorways police to raise awareness about road safety and laws for driving on the highways.



Responding to a question on the possible increase in traffic pressure on the highways and motorways in the north zone once CPEC is complete, DIG Ahsan said that the government plans to recruit 5,000 new police officials to maintain order on the roads.

But with trucks under the mega project already arriving in the country through icy tundra of Khunjerab, DIG Ahsan said that they would be inducted as many as 1,800 police officials immediately to maintain the flow of traffic on major roads.

Additionally, the motorway police officer said that they were creating three new zones once CPEC is complete.

In response to a question over the rise in encroachment along the Grand Trunk Road between Lahore and Rawalpindi, DIG Ahsad said that clearing of these obstacles to provide the right of way was high on his priority.

He added that the National Highways Authority and the concerned civic agencies were constantly communicating on tackling such encroachment.

Providing a recap of their performance, the police officer said that the motorways police had issued 635 notices to illegal encroachers since February this year, adding that most of the encroachment exist in Taxila, Rawat, Gujar Khan, Kharian, Gujranwala, and Muridkay.

Moreover, officials of the force had distributed 12,097 pamphlets amongst motorists and residents over the hazards of encroachment along the GT Road. As many as 68 meetings had also been arranged with locals who were accused of encroaching on the road.

To improve the road conditions, the traffic engineering department of NHMP had written 168 letters to the NHA.

Giving an overview of traffic laws strictly implemented, DIG Ahsan said that since he took over in February, they had issued 2.68 million tickets for different traffic violations.



Further, the motorway police had helped as many as 191,285 people who got in trouble while travelling on the highways.

The police also handled 166 traffic accidents during this time, including 93 fatal accidents. The police also arrested 12 criminals and recovered eight stolen vehicles. The police also recovered 27 lost children and handed them over to their parents.

To maintain discipline in the police force, the DIG said that in 2016 the department issued show cause notices to 305 officers and constable for various violations. Minor penalties were imposed on 113 police officials while five officers were handed major penalties.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 26^th, 2017.