ISLAMABAD: MQM Senator Mian Mohammad Ateeq Sheikh said on Friday that he would raise in Senate the issue of increase in motorways fine.

The MQM Senator raised the issue during a meeting of the Senate subcommittee on communications.
His displeasure was shared by all lawmakers during the meeting, who also objected to more than doubling the penalties for violation of traffic law on motorways.

“The fine for speeding has been increased from Rs700 to Rs2,500. Similarly, the amount of fines for other traffic offences have also been raised four times,” Senator Ateeq Sheikh said.

The senator also doubted that the revenue collected from motorists at toll plazas on the motorways and highways were not being deposited into government accounts.

He alleged that the toll collected was being used by the Motorway Police without check.

“The money should be utilised to maintain highways,” Ateeq Sheikh asserted.

The member demanded complete details of the revenue collected from motorists between 2013 till 2019, as well as details of the maintenance works, particularly on Islamabad to Lahore motorway.

He also demanded report on the contracts awarded to companies to ascertain transparency.

The subcommittee chairman, Fida Mohammad, voiced his concern over what he described as massive hike in the amount of fines for violation of law on the motorway.

Responding to queries and the concerns, Communications Secretary Jawwad Rafique Malik conceded that fines had been raised on the ministry’s recommendations.

Penalties for traffic violations, in the form of fines, were part of the traffic law enforcement chain.

The measure will deter road users from committing traffic violations.

The government official tried to pacify Senator Ateeq Sheikh that the fines and toll collected from motorists was being deposited with the government.

The official told the members that 50pc of the revenue collected from the motorists on highways was given to the Motorway Police.

Published in Dawn, November 30th, 2019