LAHORE: The inaugural meeting of the Special Committee of the Punjab Assembly chaired by Minister for Mines and Minerals Sardar Sher Ali Gorchani marked a decisive step towards tackling the pressing issues of illegal sand mining and the damage caused by overloaded vehicles on highways.
The meeting held on Wednesday also saw the attendance of Minister for Transport Bilal Akbar Khan and Minister for Communications and Works Sohaib Ahmed Malik besides Punjab Assembly members Mushtaq Ahmed, Shaukat Raja, Sardar Muhammad Ali and other officials.
The committee engaged in a comprehensive discussion on the detrimental impact of overloaded sand trolleys on road infrastructure. Participants voiced significant concerns over the unlawful extraction and transportation of sand, highlighting the severe repercussions of such activities on public property and safety.
The meeting underscored the urgent need to fortify mechanisms that prevent vehicles exceeding proposed weight limits from accessing highways. There was unanimous agreement on the necessity for strict enforcement of load management policies to safeguard the integrity of the road network.
Sardar Sher Ali Gorchani asserted the government’s zero-tolerance stance on illegal sand leases and mining. He said, “Highways are public property built with taxpayers’ money. We will not allow overloaded heavy vehicles to destroy these vital assets.”
Addressing past the mismanagement, Gorchani lamented the exploitation of department of mines and minerals under previous administrations, which he described as treating public resources like a free-for-all. “Under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s leadership, we are committed to using Punjab’s mineral wealth for the public good. Holding those who have plundered public assets accountable is imperative.”
Highlighting the financial toll of illegal activities, Gorchani revealed that the national treasury incurs losses amounting to millions of rupees daily due to sand theft and unauthorized mining. He shared his personal involvement in a recent raid at Sakhi Sarwar, where he uncovered illegal sand transportation operations facilitated by local officials accepting bribes of Rs2500 to Rs3500 per trolley.
Minister for Communications Sohaib Ahmed Malik reassured that the C&W Department, in collaboration with the Departments of Mines and Minerals and Transport, will address all identified issues with utmost dedication.
Minister for Transport Bilal Akbar Khan announced the development of a robust mechanism to strictly curb overloading, ensuring the protection and longevity of the province’s road infrastructure.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2024