Inspector General (IG) of National Highway and Motorway Police (NH&MP), Kaleem Imam has revealed that over speeding and the poor condition of tyres, not absence of cat's eye (a retro-reflective safety device used in road marking), led to the accident wherein former Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee Chairman General Khalid Shamim Wynne along with his friend died.
Briefing a parliamentary panel, Kaleem Imam said that an inquiry has been conducted into the road accident. The former chairman JCSC died while travelling to Lahore via Motorway. It has been confirmed that the car speed was around 135-140 km/h while one of the tyres which burst was in poor condition (likely a stepney), he added. Further Shamim Wynne and his friend were sitting in rear seats and their belts were not buckled which led to serious injuries and their deaths. The driver and Wynne's son were buckled, which saved their lives, the IG added.
The IG while briefing the National Assembly Standing Committee on Communications, which met with Muhammad Muzammil Qureshi in the chair, said that the ratio of fatal accidents on national highways and motorways declined by 32 percent, non-fatal by 53 percent and overall by 44 percent in 2017 compared to 2016 due to better policing.
He said that 347 fatal accidents and 411 non-fatal accidents were reported in 2016 which claimed 545 lives and 1,369 other got injured. However, the trend declined in 2017 where 236 fatal and 192 non-fatal accidents were reported which claimed lives of 428 persons, besides injuring 1,036 persons.
Officials of the Communication Ministry revealed that Pakistan transport industry can face issues when international traffic would ply on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) due to non-compliance of international standards for car carrier, weigh, dimensions and axel load.
The committee was further informed that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and Frontier Works Organization (FWO) are illegally taking road connection from M-1 at Colonel Sher Interchange and link road for Swat Expressway, as they have yet to take NoC from NHA. The NHA stopped FWO and KP government for four to five times, but they resumed works without getting NoC, said Imran Yousafzai, Member NHA.
The committee directed that all laws and rules related to roads may be revised extensively to avoid any such situation. The committee was appraised that National Transport Research Center (NTRC) has conducted five researches during fiscal year 2016-17, spending Rs 5 million.
The center has so far completed more than 235 studies / reports. These reports are on various modes of transport which have provided an essential input for the preparation/ appraisal of transport projects, plans, policies and defining the legal framework and implementation requirements.
During financial year 2016-17, the government allocated an amount of Rs 4.917 million and the following tasks were completed with this fund; (i) awareness workshop on international transportation era in the country, (ii) pilot traffic count survey on N-5 from Peshawar to Karachi (5 locations), (iii) pilot axle load survey on N-S from Peshawar to Karachi, (iv) travel time survey on N-5 from Peshawar to Karachi, (v), legal aspects of transportation of dangerous goods (ADR) and, (vi) technical audit of transportation of dangerous goods (ADR).
For financial year 2017-18, the government has allocated an amount of Rs 95.78 million which would be utilized for NTRC axle load survey at 70 locations on national highways and motorways, NTRC permanent traffic count program on national highways and motorways, accident data and accident cost study in the country, origin destination survey for passenger and freight demand in the country, length of road and digital map of all types of road in the country, laws and regulations related to transport sector, and vehicle operating cost.
The committee directed that the research reports may be shared with the committee and on the basis of the recommendations of the reports and new legislative proposals may be initiated. The committee was briefed that the National Highway Safety Ordinance, 2000 is being revised.
he committee was informed that Pakistan PWD had received the total approved budget for water tank of NTRC twice but the water tank has not been completed since long. The committee showed its grave concern over the poor performance of Pakistan PWD. The committee directed the PWD to submit its report in this regard. The committee directed the PWD authorities including director general to attend next meeting and explain position for poor performance.
The committee showed its dissatisfaction over the closure of service area on M-1 near Indus River. The committee directed that KPK government may be invited to attend next meeting and give its input on development of Gilgit-Chitral Road. The laws and rules about road safety may be revised. The committee noticed poor performance of Pakistan Public Works Department. The NTRC is directed to furnish its research about road safety.