LAHORE, March 31: Highway officials have been directed to take concrete steps for the elimination of criminal gangs involved in highway robberies.

Punjab Highway Patrolling additional IG Tariq Saleem said this while talking to officials during his surprise visit to patrolling check posts along Indus Super Highway in far-flung districts of Bhakkar, Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur.

He said an effective patrolling plan and a monitoring system had been devised to review the performance of officials on daily basis.

He said the main purpose of his visit to far-flung areas was to review the performance of officials. He also enquired about the problems of officials posted at these check posts and assured their early solution.

Tariq Saleem paid surprise visit to check posts of Kotla Jam, Muhammad Yarwala in Bhakkar; Turaman, Mana Bangla in Dera Ghazi Khan; Bangla Hadayat, Bangla Bhegan and Tower Rujhan in Rajanpur.

He also inspected under-construction check posts, including Shadan Lund and Kot Morr.

The additional IG informed that patrolling check posts in Khakhar and Shah Wali had been approved and construction work would be taken in hand shortly.

Notables of these areas informed Tariq Saleem that the crime rate had declined with the establishment of patrolling posts and now they could travel on highways without any fear.