ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari Wednesday said roads play a very important role in the socio-economic development of the country but meanwhile this expansion also pose great challenges to the safety and security of the travelling public.
He was addressing a ceremony held at Aiwan-e-Sadr to inaugurate the first ever state of the art "Road Safety Institute" of National Highways and Motorways Police.
The President said road safety challenge is important in Pakistan adding there is an urgent need for educating and equipping the people in road safety measures.
He appreciated the efforts of National Highways and Motorways Police and Federal Minister for Communication Dr. Arbab Alamgeer for their untiring efforts in establishing this first ever Road Safety Institute in the federal capital.
The President said, "I am confident that nationwide network of Road Safety Institutes by the National Highways and Motorways Police will greatly benefit the community in improving awareness regarding road safety."
He said the Road Safety Institute will impart traffic education and sensitize the drivers about the traffic laws, the driving hazards and the precautionary measures.
The President said the building of the first ever Road Safety Institute in Pakistan is a welcome initiative and it will help in creating awareness to make the roads after and improve the travel and driving standards in the country.
While congratulating the Motorways Police, the President said their professionalism, commitment and dedication have helped reduce accidents and crime rates on the highways and motorways.
The President highlighting the important of road network said, "We owe it to our people to further strength and modernize the National Highways and Motorways Police."
Appreciating the sacrifices and hardwork of the motorways police especially the jawans, the President said, its true that they do not pay enough, they do not get enough benefit but stand on the roads in line of their professional duties with dedication, commitment to perform professional duties.
The President paid homage to all those who lost their lives in line with performing their duty and added it is show of great courage and dedication by the Motorways Police jawans.
He said the Motorways Police has been making great efforts to improve traffic and safety standards.
President Zardari said, the Motorways Police has already earned the confidence of the people for their professionalism, service and introducing a new culture in traffic policing.
He said he is confident that the Motorways Police will keep up their professionalism and bring greater glory to themselves and the country.
Earlier, the Minister for Communication Dr. Arbab Alamgeer in his welcome address on this occasion said Motorways Police has been playing important role in ensuring safety on highways and motorways.
Referring to loss of over 16,000 lives every year in road accidents, the Minister said, it has increased more challenges for the Motorways Police.
He said the establishment of first ever Road Safety Institute in Pakistan is a land mark decision by the present democratic government and it will help in reducing the accidents.
The Minister said besides opening such Raod Safety Institutes at each district, the Motorways Police will provide different kind of training including driving skill, maintenance of vehicles and other basic rules to improve road safety among the public.
Inspector General National Highways and Motorways Police Zafar Abbas speaking on the occasion Pakistan is one those developing countries of the world where the deaths in the road accidents is very high. He said 1.3 million people lost their lives every year in the world in road accidents and in Pakistan 16,000 people died in road accidents.
He especially appreciated the services of first ever Inspector General of National Highways and Motorways Police Iftikhar Rashid for establishing such an important police force that has been rendering very importance service of ensuring road safety through out the country.
The President also unveiled the plaque to formally inaugurate the first ever Road Safety Institute of the country.
He also distributed certificates of excellence among a select group of officers of National Highways and Motorways Police who played important role in checking crimes on the highways.
Those jawans and officers who received certificates included Shahid Nawaz, Aqif Nushad, Abdul Razzaq, Tahir Iqbal, Shazia Tabasum, Naeem Khan, Rehmat Ali and Muhammad Riaz.
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