The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Transport & Information, Mian Iftikhar Hussain has directed the Traffic and police departments to impose complete ban on plying of outdated commercial vehicles on the roads. He said that government would launch special drive against illegal bus stands and Adda very shortly.
He stated this while presiding a meeting here at department of transport regarding streamlining vehicular traffic system in the city. Those who attended the meeting were Secretary Transport Azmat Hanif Orakzai, Commissioner Peshawar Tariq Jamil, DIG Traffic Mazhar, SP Traffic and secretaries of PTA and RTAs.
Mian Iftikhar said that the department in principle agreed to lift ban on the route-permits, however, the previous ban will continue. It was seriously contemplating to ban individual permit system in order to streamline the vehicular traffic in the province, he added.
He maintained that the route-permits would be given to transport operating companies in future, which could make visible changes in the computerisation facilities. The provincial transport minister said the government would not allow any illegal bus stands, adding it was essential to take permission of PTA and RTA before establishment of Adda. He added that the illegal bus stands causes obstruction in smooth flow of traffic in the Peshawar city. He said special drive would be launched in this regard.
The commissioners who are the honorary chairmen of RTAs would be asked to take the minister and Secretary Transport on board to settle down the affairs of route-permits etc in their respective areas. The commissioners and the transport department should be on the same page to discipline the unruly traffic in the province.
Mian Iftikhar said that there would be no authenticity and validity of those permits, which were issued during the ban period. The action could be taken against officers and officials, who were involved in issuance of permits in violation of rules, he maintained.