Transport policy ready: Official

Conference discusses road safety and logistics discusses under CPEC project

ISLAMABAD: Government will remove all grievances of stakeholders regarding infrastructure, transport and logistics management in CPEC, Planning Commission and Reforms Secretary Shoaib Ahmad Siddiqui said on Monday.

First national transport policy has been devised and expected to be promulgated soon, Siddiqui said at a conference organised by Institute of Road Safety Traffic Environment Pakistan with the collaboration of National Institute of Transportation NUST Islamabad.

“Regional connectivity and best availability of transport and logistic infrastructure will boost our relations with states connected with One-Belt-One-Road initiative,” he said.

Siddiqui said that government has designed Pakistan ‘s first ever transport policy and its draft has been handed over to government to get it tabled in National Assembly. He said road development is mother of all developments and it has key role in relation with China. He said CPEC is the name of road, rail, air, fibre and shipyard connectivity and development of their relevant infrastructure. Pakistan and China can share their experiences in road safety development.

On this occasion, National Logistics Cell (NLC) Director General Major General Mushtaq A Faisal stressed on the importance of logistic infrastructure and supply chain management in CPEC. NLC has been taking special steps in this connection. He informed that NLC has signed agreement with Mercedes Company for manufacturing loading trucks in Pakistan to make ensure the facilities for smooth trading and transportation of goods. He told that Pakistan will introduce Truck tracking system to monitor all transportation on highways and CPEC routs. NLC will manage Sust Border Terminal Logistic Management and will construct service stations with facilities for trucks and drivers along with CPEC roads at every 200 km.

China Embassy Political Councillor Jiag Han addressing the audience strongly ruled out the perception which has been prevailed in a segment of Pakistani society that China will dominate like East India Company during British regime. He said that China had been victim of colonisation and the president of China already had exhibited China’s policy “China will boost other economies without political interference and imposing its own economic agenda.”

Chief Executive of CPEC project Daud Butt hinted out that various type of technology such as RFID, robotics, drones, BIM, Big Data and artificial intelligence would be used in road safety management and transportation of trade.

National Highways and Motorway Police Shaharyar Sikandar speaking to the audiences said that due to better management, the death toll during road accidents has been decreased 44% last year. He said that traffic police has taken various steps as e-ticketing, electronic controlling, driving centre for HTV drivers and better services of international standards.

National Institute of Transportation Chairman Qaiser J Khattana on this occasion said that strong trade connectivity would lead to regional economic development and transport infrastructure is pre-requisite for CPEC. He said his institution has been working to maintain CPEC road and transport effects on environment at zero level. He said after CPEC completion Pakistan would be a major transport hub of the world.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 10^th, 2018.