Business community proposes citizen’s role in traffic policing
Vehicles stuck in a traffic jam on Sharea Faisal due to the protest by Jamaat-e-Islami against frequent increases in electricity and fuel prices by the caretaker government. Photo: Jalal Qureshi/Express
The Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) has urged for the formation of a citizen-police committee to control the traffic issues in the capital as well as curb increasing road accidents and protect precious human lives.
Islamabad Traffic Police SSP Muhammad Sarfraz Virk visited the ICCI on Friday during which the office-holders made the suggestion, stated a press release. Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, the chamber’s president, said traffic accidents were on the rise while calling for a joint committee to tackle the issues of speeding and violation of traffic rules, it continued.
He said that severe action was needed against underage drivers and people driving without seat belts should be penalised, the statement added.
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He said that Islamabad was expanding rapidly and the current traffic police force was proving insufficient.
He said the traffic system at the entrances of Islamabad like Rawat, Tarnol and Barakahu as well as the business hubs located in these areas were facing ‘extreme traffic problems’.
The lane marking had not been done in high traffic areas for a long time due to which traffic discipline has weakened, it continued. He also urged the CDA to transfer the traffic engineering department to traffic police.
Published in The Express Tribune, November 18th, 2023.