ABBOTTABAD, Sept 11: Traffic warden system will soon be introduced in Abbottabad and proper parking lots provided to transporters on public-private partnership in order to overcome traffic problems and facilitate passengers.

Deputy inspector general of police, Hazara Range, Akhtar Hayat Gandapur, said this here on Wednesday while talking to a group of local media persons. He said that they wanted to reduce traffic load on the KKH which was a vital link of Abbottabad district with Gilgit, Azad Kashmir, Kohistan, Mansehra, Battagram and Torghar besides other parts of the country.

He said that one bypass would be built from Havelian to Dhamthore, also connecting Abbottabd-Nathagali road, and another bypass from Havelian to Abbottabad Public School on Mansehra road. After construction of these by-pass roads traffic pressure would be reduced to some extent. The tourists going to Nathiagali would have an easy access to their destinations from Havelian.

Mr Gandapur said that they had launched a crackdown on foreigners staying illegally and about 40 foreigners were detained in Hazara division in last two days.

Answering a question, he said that two new ‘administrative’ sub-divisions had been created in Abbottabad district with additional posting of a DSP to check the high influx of people shifting from violence-hit areas. He said that the move would be helpful in checking miscreants trying to sneak into Hazara. He also said that a survey had been launched to collect data from private hostels located in the city to keep check on presence of miscreants.

The DIG said that a campaign had been launched against timber mafia and over 100 trucks loaded with illegal timber were seized.

RAID: Assistant commissioner, Abbottabad, Osama Ahmed leading a joint raid by police and revenue officials took possession of 217 kanal government land occupied illegally at Havelian.

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Housing Authority had taken possession of the land. He said that the occupants had illegally built 33 sheds on the land and were running business there for the last eight years.

Meanwhile, a month-long cleanliness campaign has been started in Abbottabad district on the directives of the provincial government.