LAHORE – The National Highways and Motorways Police (NH&MP) have planned to establish four driving schools, separate licensing institutions, road safety institutions and motor/vehicles examining centers during the current year, said NH&MP Inspector General Zafar Abbas Luk.
He further maintained that all the stakeholders including Bus Owners Association, Transporters Associations and Trucks Associations would be taken on board in devising strategies to enhance living standards of trucks and busses’ drivers and to fix their working hours.
Earlier, during his first interaction with the Transport Associations, Bus Associations and Media practitioners at his Zonal Office at Thokar Niaz Baig, the IG urged the owners of various transport companies to reduce tendency of exploiting drivers through different means. “You should fix their working hours and provide them other privileges,” he asked.
Furthermore, he said the drivers were habitual of overloading as compared to the standard load per axil. He further said that vehicles’ physical fitness checking would be started by motorway police to ensure that only fit buses ply on national highways and motorways.
“Media has its role to play and should point out any discrepancy to improve besides highlighting public service messages and campaigns for the welfare of people,” Luk said. He also announced cash worth Rs 50,000 and commendation certificate for the heirs of a bus guard who laid his life during a dacoity bid.