Motorway police a role model institution: PM

Nawaz Sharif announces 20 per cent salary raise for NHMP staffers.

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said the National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP) is a role model for all institutions in the country.

Addressing the annual award ceremony of the motorway police at the PM Office on Tuesday, the prime minister appreciated the performance, professionalism and merit of NHMP and termed it a pride of the nation.

The PM also announced a 20 per cent raise in salaries for NHMP. “It is a small acknowledgement of your exemplary service to the country and for making our highways safe,” he said.

The premier said the government would provide more vehicles and other equipment to the police. He added that the recently recruited 1,500 officials will help the force improve standards and expand its coverage.

Sharif said he would soon inaugurate work on the Lahore-Karachi motorway.

“The Pakistan-China economic corridor would boost economic activities in the country,” he added. He said the government was making road safety regulations part of the school curricula.

NHMP Inspector General Zulfiqar Ahmed Cheema said the United Nations had termed NHMP an “island of excellence” and said it was the only corruption-free public institution in Pakistan. He said all road users are treated equally, irrespective of their socio-economic standing or official position. He said the police had penalised several ministers and army officers for traffic violations and did not discriminate on basis of fines.

The PM also distributed awards, medals and certificates among the select NHMP officials at the ceremony.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 31^st, 2014.