Govt urges ban on non-standard axles

In a move to safeguard the country's road infrastructure, the federal government has called on the provinces to submit comprehensive plans aimed at prohibiting the use of non-standard axles. This decision was made during a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, where several resolutions were passed to implement the Axle Load Regime (ALR) effectively.

During the meeting, it was decided that provinces, along with the National Highway Authority (NHA) and National Highway and Motorway Police (NHMP), should consider including smaller mining companies while developing policy measures for the installation of weighing stations. This inclusion is intended to provide a level playing field for the mining sector.

Multiple interventions regarding the weighing of vehicles were also discussed and approved. The provinces have been urged to identify suitable measures to prevent weighing inaccuracies, often caused by unauthorised axle modifications, and to submit plans to ban the addition of non-standard axles.

The Provincial Excise Departments have been instructed to support the installation of additional axles for goods vehicles, ensuring compliance with national standards. Provinces are also required to coordinate with the NHA and NHMP to identify new critical sites for weighing stations and upgrade existing ones where needed. The option of utilising a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework was explored to encourage private sector participation.

In addition, the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecom (MoIT&T), in collaboration with the NHA and provincial governments, has been tasked with creating a National Dashboard to integrate axle load data across the country's entire road network. Notably, Punjab has already started working on this initiative. The MoIT&T was also instructed to coordinate with the NHMP, Frontier Works Organisation (FWO), and the provinces to develop a plan for expanding the Intelligent Transport System (ITS) on all motorways, which is vital for the effective implementation of the ALR.

The provinces will work closely with the MoIT&T and NHA to install automated recognition cameras at all weigh stations, ensuring greater accuracy and accountability in monitoring axle loads.

Penalty structure and enforcement

A key point of discussion was the need for uniformity in enforcement and penalties across the country. The provinces were directed to harmonise their laws with the federal standards to ensure consistency in enforcement and penalty structures. The Provincial Transport Authorities, in coordination with the Motorway and National Highway Police, will strictly enforce the ALR and take action against violators of axle load limits.

At the ports, the Ministry of Maritime Affairs is to prepare an actionable plan with clear timelines to implement ALR at the points of origin at Port Qasim and Karachi Port Trust (KPT), ensuring all stakeholders are involved in the process.

Awareness and training initiatives

Provinces have been asked to launch regular awareness campaigns in collaboration with stakeholders, using both print and electronic media to inform the public about the importance of axle load regulations. Additionally, training programmes will be introduced for drivers, focusing on human resource export and language courses. Provincial Technical Education and Vocational Training Authorities (TEVTAs) and the NHMP Inspector General will devise a comprehensive, milestone-based plan for driver training.