ISLAMABAD, Feb 15: The government is considering a comprehensive package for modernising the trucking sector.
A senior official in the Engineering Development Board (EDB) said that these recommendations would be discussed at length with relevant ministries before announcing in the upcoming budget. The recommendations were under the four heads of enforcement, financial issues, facilitation and local industry. Motor vehicle examination system and registration have emerged main issues under the head of enforcement.
It was proposed to transfer Motor Vehicle Examination (MVE) to private sector with testing stations established outside the main cities in order to avoid heavy rush.
Vehicle inspection employed by these private sector testing stations should be well conversant with the technical and mechanical aspects and the inspection should cover all these aspects of the vehicles.
Other recommendations include deputing of Federal Government Inspectors at all MVE premises to check fitness and enforce applied standards, exemption from obtaining road worthiness certificate for first three years for the vehicles, a proper hierarchical setup to be established of MVE (properly qualified and training manpower), mandatory bi-annual fitness test for semi-trailers and passing of MV responsibility to motorway police. They have also recommended harmonised system of vehicle registration.
Recommending change in the Motor Vehicle Ordinance it was proposed that vehicles beyond 15-20 years not to be allowed on road. Another recommendation is that government should provide land for truck stands on 99 years leasing base. Elimination of route permit is also recommended.
Referring to the problem of overloading it was recommended that extra load should be off-loaded and confiscated at the cost of dispatcher of the goods/consignee instead of fining the truck operator. They want that the industry should be allowed private sector to setup their own freight stations outside cities with facilities of land.
Another recommendation was that the trucking sector should be given the status of industry so that they could get the facility of bank loans. The merger of all taxes into one with three to five years tax relaxation was also proposed so that bigger organisations could enter into the industry.
It was demanded that trucks should be ensured as per their model and cargo as per its nature and value. Availability of trucks on easy instalments in the open market is another recommendation.
The stakeholders wanted that old Bedford trucks to be taken off from the roads with compensation by the government. Another important recommendation is establishment of chamber of transport with transparent control system and training of drivers has also been emphasised.
