ISLAMABAD, July 14: Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani on Monday said the government supported elimination of VIP culture from public departments to ensure discipline based on equity.

Speaking at the annual award distribution ceremony of National Highways and Motorway Police (NH&MP), the prime minister stressed the need for abolishing the practice of VIP culture from all segments of society, and for bringing order and discipline into full practice.

The prime minister urged the need for developing the country’s highway and traffic system at par with international standard in terms of rule observance, road safety and traffic sense.

He called for inculcating sense among the masses of following rules and regulations, not only on roads but also in every sphere of life.

He highlighted the need for launching special drives to train people on speeding and use of seatbelts to avoid fatal accidents.

Prime Minister Gilani expressed satisfaction over working of the NH&MP for ensuring orderly behaviour among the motorists and their polite yet firm handling of the road users.

He coined a new slogan for NH&MP as ‘National roads for one nation’ to depict the symbol of unity among all provinces.

He asked the departments to observe provincial, minority and women quotas at all costs, while recruiting staff, and particularly asked NH&MP to ensure 10 per cent quota for women in their departments.

Inspector General NH&MP Muhammad Raffat Pasha on the occasion highlighted various achievements of the department since its inception in 1997, and said for the first time a “corruption- free, soft police” was introduced in country’s history.

He said due to efficient performance of the motorway police, the rate of accidents had declined by 70 per cent and the crime rate by 80 per cent.

Mr Pasha said construction of N-75 from Islamabad to Murree Expressway and N-35 from Hassan Abdal to Mansehra Dual Carriageway were on cards.

He said the officials were trained to adopt a service- oriented and public-friendly attitude to facilitate the road users. He also mentioned NH&MP’s other services including 24-hour helpline 130, ambulances with paramedics, patrol vehicles equipped with first-aid facilities and mobile workshop with mechanics.—APP