CM APPROVES SETTING UP OF ‘ROAD SAFETY AUTHORITY’

PUNJAB Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif gave approval to setting up of Road Safety Authority in the province. The authority will take immediate measures with regard to driving licensing system, traffic engineering, vehicles fitness system, vehicle registration, database and management system.

Member Provincial Assembly Sheikh Ijaz Ahmed will be the chairman of the authority. The chief minister was addressing a meeting through video link at Civil Secretariat on Tuesday.

He said the road safety system is of vital importance for protection of human lives therefore the model of Sweden will be followed for this purpose.

He said that introduction of the new system will reduce traffic accidents, and added that the measures regarding

road safety will be made part of the syllabus as it is essential to pro-

mote awareness among the people in this regard.

Shehbaz Sharif said the establishment of the authority will result in an effective system of road safety as it will eliminate bogus driving licensing and only trained drivers will be able to come on the roads. He said the scope of vehicle inspection and certification will be extended to the whole province and directed authorities concerned to come forward and perform their responsibilities with efficiency and commitment.

The chief minister also issued instructions for setting up a steering committee which will be headed by Provincial Minister for Excise Mian Mujtaba Shuja ur Rehman and Chief Secretary and will give final shape to the measures regarding road safety.

Minister for Excise and Taxation Mujtaba Shuja ur Rehman, MPA Sheikh Ijaz Ahmed, chief secretary, Planning and Development chairman and other authorities participated in the meeting through video link.