RAWALPINDI: The divisional administration on Monday claimed that encroachments on main roads were the primary reason for traffic jams and ordered an indiscriminate operation to build deterrence against this practice.

“As many as 3,800 cameras of the Safe City project are being installed across the city, which will help identify encroachments and traffic jams caused by them immediately,” the official said.

In a meeting held at the Commissioner’s office, the administration asked the deputy commissioner, Rawalpindi Municipal Corporation (RMC), and traffic police to issue warnings to private schools, hospitals, and shopkeepers to clear the roads in front of their outlets from illegal parking and encroachments; otherwise, stern action would be taken against them.

Commissioner Aamir Khattak, while presiding over the meeting held to solve the issues of traffic, said that encroachments were the main reason for the traffic jams. Apart from this, road construction and repair, non-availability of parking, and road engineering as well as untrained drivers were creating traffic problems, he claimed.

Over 280,000 people receive ration package in Rawalpindi division

He said that warnings have been issued once again to all stakeholders, especially shopkeepers regarding encroachment. He said that people should be given special awareness regarding the implementation of traffic rules as the chronic issue of traffic jams could be reduced to some extent by following the rules.

He asked the representatives of traders’ associations to inform the government about the anti-encroachment operation in their respective markets. “The encroachment has badly affected the life and affairs of the city of Rawalpindi, so there can be no further relaxation or delay in its operation,” he said.

The commissioner was briefed by traffic police that fines for traffic violations have been increased significantly. As many as 140,694 challans have been issued for various violations since January 1, 2024.

According to the details, 313 challans for over-speeding, 4,023 for traffic signal violations, 2,464 for lacking a helmet, 4,130 for the wrong-way; and 2,982 FIRs have been registered. Along with this, 90,836 driving licences have been issued since January 1, 2024.

Price magistrates performance

Commissioner Aamir Khattak directed the deputy commissioners of all districts to improve the performance of the price magistrates and suspend magistrates, whose performance is below par, after giving them a warning and show-cause notice.

“Our first priority is to deliver the full benefits of government subsidies to the people, for which it is necessary to continue indiscriminate actions against hoarding and illegal profiteering,” he said.

He directed that actions should be taken keeping in view the public complaints as well as the report of the Special Branch. On this occasion, while giving a briefing on the daily performance, the commissioner was apprised that the number of price magistrates in Rawalpindi had been increased to 178.

It claimed in a single day 9,917 inspections were conducted for price control, during which 199 violations were reported. A fine of Rs497,000 was imposed on violators; one FIR was registered, one building was sealed; and 39 people were arrested. Likewise, show-cause notices were issued to 118 price magistrates over poor performance.

Commissioner Aamir Khattak was also briefed regarding the Nighaban ration package. He was told that three people were suspended for “low distribution and 13 people were suspended for cluster distribution”, while many were served with warnings and show cause notices.

It was informed that so far 280,822 beneficiaries have benefited from the ration package across the division. According to the details, the ration package has been delivered to 95,090 beneficiaries in Rawalpindi district, 78,318 in Attock, 47,542 in Jhelum, 54,160 in Chakwal, and 5,713 in Murree.

Published in Dawn, March 26th, 2024