The provincial government of NWFP Tuesday constituted a special committee to carry out survey and recommend issuance of more route permits to buses, taxis, auto-rickshaws in Peshawar city.
The body was formed after a meeting held here with NWFP Minister for Transport, Mian Iftikhar Hussein in the chair. Secretary Transport will head the committee with representatives of PTA, RTA, Traffic Police and private transporters will submit its report within ten days.
Speaking on the occasion the minister declared that the vehicles having no route permit would not be allowed to ply and such practice would be discouraged. He also directed the conversion of two-stroke engine rickshaws into four-stroke engine to control the pollution.
He also directed the authorities for devising a comprehensive plan for streamlining the traffic system in the provincial metropolis so as to get rid of traffic problems and save the precious time of the people.
The meeting besides others was also attended by the Secretary Transport Zafar Iqbal, Secretary PTA Ahmad Jan Afridi, Secretary RTA Ahmad Nasim, AIG Traffic Zafarullah Khan, MTWF President Noor Muhammad Khan and representatives of the Excise and Taxation Department and City District Government.
Referring to the demands of the Muthahida Transport Workers Federation (MTWF), the Transport Minister said that the government would introduce such policy that could fully protect the rights of the transporters and also not affecting the revenue of the government.
He assured that problems relating to Excise Department and Police would be resolved at high level. Regarding the demand of handing over the management of Peshawar Bus Stand to the old transporters, Mian Iftkhar Hussain directed the authorities concerned to follow that system which had already existed in other districts of the province and take care of the rights of all the stakeholders in this regard.