Ahmed Mujtaba Gilani, incharge of Prime Minister's camp office in Multan, said here on Sunday that very soon National Transport Policy would be introduced to provide better services to commuters.
According to him, the policy, formulated by the Ministry of Communication (MoC) with the assistance of Asian Development Bank (ADB), would be submitted for the Cabinet's approval. The government developed the national transport policy framework to establish long-term strategic vision and to ensure commitment to effective practices by all transport agencies.
Talking to officers of National Highway Authority and provincial highways, Mujtaba said that the policy was under review at the MOC. Pakistan Road Sector Development Programme stated that some of the road safety policy actions were not fully implemented. No comprehensive road safety framework has been developed for the entire road network because of lack of funds and lack of co-ordination among the institutions involved.
However, policy reforms related to road sector resource management, road asset preservation, and institutional efficiency improvements were implemented well. He said that NHA has prepared a long-term financial business plan 2007-2020 for approval by the government, which aims at ensuring a sustainable and credible financial resource envelope for implementation of the development programme. The plan is being presented to the National Highway Executive Board for approval. The budget allocation is based on medium-term development framework of NHA.
Each five-year planning period reflects the increasing need of the sector, so the public sector development programme allocation is being enhanced every year. The government's endorsement of the business plan and resolution of the cash development loan issue will meet the increasing demand of the sector on a more sustainable basis.
Most of the national highways have been brought under a tolling regime, which has ensured a stable and secure source of funding for network conservation and maintenance. Road maintenance account (RMA) receipts increased from Rs 2.86 billion in FY2003 to Rs 8.4 billion in FY2007. About 70 percent of RMA revenue is attributable to tolls. The network maintenance needs are increasing with the enhancement in service level, addition of new roads and expansion of existing roads. The toll revenue is still not adequate to meet the network's maintenance demand. A toll policy is being formulated to revise the toll rates, with a view to enhancing the revenue.
One of the basic problems in the sector is the lack of co-ordination, collaboration, and co-operation among government agencies involved. This needs to be addressed before implementing policy reforms that require the participation of inter-ministerial departments. Different types of roads are under provincial and district governments. There is need for legislative dialogue to implement policy reforms for the entire country. Three first tranches require further actions to ensure full compliance. The government should accelerate efforts to establish the accident reporting centre; driver instructor training school and accident evaluation laboratory.
Construction of 112 weighing stations at strategic locations has been planned in three phases. Forty-two weigh stations have been constructed and are operational, which will contribute to axle load control. A fine collection system is being implemented at weigh stations on national highways and motorways and the awareness programme is developed as well.
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