Message from IG, NH&MP

South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) will replicate the National Highways and Motorway Police (NH&MP) role model of soft and people-friendly policing in other countries of the region.
"The NH&MP has earned this image through politeness, sincerity and selflessness public service, which helped in inculcating sense of responsibility and respect of law among the commuters", said Dr Waseem Kausar, Inspector General (IG) NH&MP in his messages for Communication & Road Safety Report.
Dr Waseem said that Asian Development Bank (ADB) has declared NH&MP a role model of soft and people-friendly policing for the South Asia while United Nations, impressed by its performance in all spheres of duty, has selected it for Public Service Award.
Dr Waseem said that acknowledging the achievements of NH&MP, SAARC countries including Sri Lanka, Maldives, Afghanistan and Bangladesh have invited its head (IG NH&MP) in the upcoming regional moot to brief other members of the association on the progress made and performance given by this institution in a short span of time only through dedication to duty.
He said that the culture of modern policing introduced by the NH&MP has been instrumental in maintaining the true standards of efficiency, professionalism, which helped in augmenting the notion of soft policing prompting the regional states to follow in its foot steps.
He said that soft policing culture was first introduced in England; following the same model NH&MP introduced it in Pakistan, starting it from motorway and gradually successfully expanding it to other highways. These efforts NH&MP bore fruit and positive effect is visible in the shape of mature and civilised behaviour of vehicle users on the roads, he added.
He said the delivery of services could improve only through a merit-based transparent system of selection and promotion of cops. He said that only through rule of law NH&MP has been able to achieve this landmark distinction. The IG hailed the performance of the police officers saying that the consistent commitment demonstrated by the officers in providing services to road users was highly commendable and asked them to work hard for uninterrupted, safe and clear passage of traffic and ensure safe and sound journey to the commuters.
He said the motorway police earned good reputation owing to friendly attitude of its official towards the commuters. IG said that high accident ratio was a big challenge not only for Pakistan but all the countries in the region due to illiteracy and haphazard traffic as most of the people were not accustomed to follow rules.
To meet this challenge NH&MP introduced road safety drive, which helped in bringing down the accident rate to a great extent. Moreover, due to effective enforcement and excellent strategy, the NH&MP has created the sense of road discipline among the population. IG further said that awareness among the masses regarding rules and regulations on the motorway was an important aspect of road safety.
For this seminars were arranged after every three months; workshops were organised in the educational institutes while pamphlets were distributed among the masses. Due to the efforts of the NH&MP force the rate of fatal accident dropped by 75 percent, while the ratio of non-fatal accident by 70 percent on motorway. Similarly on highways it dropped by 60 and 65 percent.
He further said that to inculcate sense of soft policing there should be balance in the training institutions with regard to teaching methodology and working technology. NH&MP trained police officials from NWFP, Balochistan and Punjab, but due to working atmospheres the results were not to the satisfaction of the high ups.