Overloaded tankers to be kept off highways

Transporters say old vehicles will be replaced

MULTAN: Tankers carrying oil or chemicals more than the weight limit will be barred from plying on national highways and motorways to prevent the risks of accidents.

This was said by National Highways and Motorways Police (NH&MP) SSP Chaudhry Ghulam Jafar as he spoke to a meeting with transport office bearers at Circle Line Headquarters in Multan

“Road accidents involving oil tankers are on the rise as the weight they are carrying is over the limit.” Jafar maintained, “These accidents can sometimes be more dangerous than anyone can imagine.”

He pointed out that all the relevant government departments had prepared a foolproof strategy to prevent such incidents. The SSP said oil tankers and transport owners had improved the condition of vehicles, while NH&MP experts were also issuing guidelines and training to oil tanker drivers regularly.

On the occasion, the participants disclosed that old vehicles would be completely phased out and modern oil tankers would run on highways and motorways within the next eleven months. This development is according to the instructions issued by Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA). They said that special briefings and training by NH&MP helped reduce road accidents. The tanker operators hailed the efforts of NH&MP and urged other departments to follow suit.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 21^st, 2018.