ISLAMABAD: On the request of goods transport owners to increase axle load limit and decrease fine on overloaded weight, Minister Planning Ahsan Iqbal directed the IG Motorways to immediately consider the proposal of making two slabs of fine.

The representatives of various goods carrier’s associations and transport organisations, unanimously, shared that since 90 percent cargo is loaded from Karachi, hurdles are often created enroute Sindh to Punjab.

On the complaint, the secretary communications directed relevant officials to install security cameras at specific offloading sites to keep such illegal practices in check. It was also decided that the issue will be resolved by bringing it into the notice of provincial transport secretaries.

Iqbal, Tuesday, held a meeting with cargo transporters including representatives of Pakistan Transport Council, Karachi Goods Carriers Association, Rawalpindi Goods Carriers Association, Faisalabad Goods Carriers Association, Peshawar Goods Carriers Association and other goods transport business owners to address their grievances related to cargo shipping on motorways.

The meeting was attended by IG Motorway Police, Secretary Communications, Additional Secretary Ministry of Communications, DIG Operations National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP) and AIG NHMP.

Minister Iqbal directed the IG Motorways to consider the proposal of making two slabs of fine. It was deliberated that Rs10,000 fine on load exceeding 15 percent is discriminatory for every vehicle since 15 percent excess equals different amount of tonnes for 10 wheelers, 14 wheelers and 22 wheelers.

On the directions of the planning minister, transporters were asked by IG police to present written suggestions according to which a proposal will soon be made to work out their suggestions.

It was discussed that the axle load regime implemented without relaxation since 15 November 2023 was posing discriminatory problems to the transport company owners.

Transporters requested the government to increase axle load limit and decrease fine on overloaded weight.

IG Motorway Police Salman Choudhry apprised the attendees that Pakistan is following international formula of road compactness to protect motorway roads from getting damaged by overloaded cargo.

"As evident from a study by National Transport Research Council, we are 15 percent overweight than the prescribed international standards," stated the IG Motorways.

Discussing the problems faced by goods owners during road transportation, the delegation cited examples of corrupt contractors charging bribe during cargo offloading between different provinces.

It was also discussed that the locally manufactured Mazda trucks do not have specified instructions for load bearing limit.

Ministry of Industries and Production was given the direction to make specifications for Mazda trucks.

The IG Motorways urged the transporters to shed extra weight and get their vehicles in line with government's specifications.

Transporters requested to be given 24 hours’ time frame to pay fines.

The IG Motorways stated that a new application for online fine deposit will be launched on 14 August for ease of all fine payers.

A representative from goods carriers business in Kashmir stated that trucks in northern areas are smaller and do not carry excess weight, therefore, they should be fined less.

The minister assured all transporters that their suggestions will be considered and their grievances will be resolved immediately to smoothen the process of cargo transportation on national motorways.

The minister directed to make a committee to do point-wise resolution of each problem in consultation with all the stakeholders.

Planning Minister Iqbal said that reduction in cargo limit is impacting export figures negatively.

Since multiple stakeholders are involved in road cargo transport business, he stressed that compliance of all importers is necessary.

He stated that a regulator's work goes beyond regulation.

"A good regulator must do sector development, prioritising the success of business, eventually facilitating the economy", urged the minister.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024