Traffic violations on motorways, highways: Rs15.5b fines collected in 11 months

ISLAMABAD: Inspector General of National Highway and Motorway Police Salman Chaudhry presented a report to the National Assembly Standing Committee on Communications, showing collection of Rs15.5 billion in fines in 11 months.

The standing committee meeting was chaired by Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader and member of National Assembly Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani.

According to the report submitted by IG Salman Chaudhry, from January 1 to November 15, over Rs4 billion fines were imposed on axle load rules violations in the past year. The traffic laws are stricter on motorways and highways, and they are strictly implemented as well to ensure protection of life and property.

Therefore, traffic laws violations on these roads also carry heavier penalties than violations committed on regular roads.

IG Motorway Police informed the committee that they are digitalising the fines system on highways. He also informed the committee that, over 144,000 traffic licenses have been issued by the Motorway Police’s Drivers Licensing Authority, which are acceptable in 132 countries.

The IG also noted that traffic rules and citizen safety are being closely monitored across 4,736 kilometers of motorways and national highways. Under the National Highway Safety Ordinance of 2000 (established in 1997), the authority is focused on assisting passengers, managing traffic, and ensuring axle load control.

Other details shared by the IG included information on 1,963 kilometers of motorways and 2,502 kilometers of highways that are monitored by the authority. He said that while the speed limit on the Indus Highway is 100 kilometers per hour, on motorways its 120 km/h which is higher than it should be. “It should be 110 km/h. The current speed limit is very dangerous and frequent accidents are taking place on the Karachi-Quetta highway,” the IG said.

He also informed that over $1 billion are needed every year for repairing the highways. Complaining about the reduction in salaries, he said “Our salaries are lower than that of all police forces.” He added that the authority has over Rs28 billion in their own budget, which could be used to increase salaries.

The Secretary for Communications said that the Ministry of Finance will have to be taken on board with the matter of salaries. The committee members unanimously recommended an increase in the salaries of the motorway police, and also recommended sending a summary to the Prime Minister.

The issue of smog was also mentioned in the committee meeting. The committee chairman asked about the steps being taken against vehicles that are causing smog. To this, the Secretary Communications responded that it is the responsibility of the provincial government to review the fitness of vehicles.

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