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ISLAMABAD, March 16: A meeting of the standing committee on communications was given a detailed presentation on the draft report of the existing public transport system by the National Transport Research Centre (NTRC) here on Tuesday. The meeting, held here on Wednesday at the Parliament House, was presided over by Senator Kamil Ali Agha. The members of the committee were informed that population growth, increased migration of people, growing number of cars and road encroachments have resulted in the poor urban transport system on the one hand and created environmental degradation on the other.
It was brought into the notice of the members that proliferation of small size vehicles had aggravated the transport situation in all the metropolitan and the number of buses which is an effective means of mass transit was on the decrease.
The committee was informed that PC-II for the formulation of comprehensive and integrated national transport policy had been approved by CDWP this month, which would contribute in providing relief to the people at large.
The report will be submitted to the house along with the suggestions of the standing committee. The committee also took strong notice of the rude behaviour of traffic police with the general public and vehicle owners and directed the NTRC chief to submit proposals for bringing out qualitative change in the system.
KTA TO SUPERVISE NETWORK: Sindh Transport Minister Adil Siddiqui told a meeting here on Tuesday that Karachi Transport Authority would supervise the entire transport network in Karachi.
The meeting was presided over by Federal Minister for Railways Shamim Haider. Minister of State for Railways Ishaq Khakwani, Chairman Railways and senior government officials were also present.
The meeting decided to hand over the circular railway, mass transit and other sectors of public transport to the authority. An underground track would be laid for circular railway from Karachi airport to Drig Road Station. A mass transit system would also be set up in Karachi like in Delhi. A delegation would go there to undertake a study of its operation.
Bonds worth Rs3.5 million would be floated to finance the expenditure of the circular railways.
TRANSPORTERS PROBLEMS: A 25-member delegation of All Pakistan Transporters Association led by its President Syed Irshad Hussain Bukhari called on the Federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources Amanullah Khan Jadoon here on Wednesday and apprised him of the problems being faced by the transporters regarding token and toll taxes, diesel price and other issues.
The petroleum minister said the recent rise in petroleum prices was a result of an upward trend in the international market. He said the government would look into their problems to provide relief to the common man.
He proposed to set up a committee comprising secretaries of petroleum, commerce, representative from CBR, finance and transporters association to prepare recommendation for resolving the issues confronting to the transport industry.
He said a meeting of the provincial ministers for transport and officials from concerned department would also be convened for the redressal of their grievances.
He said these recommendations would be submitted to the prime minister for consideration. The representatives of transporters Association informed the minister about their various problems and expressed gratitude to take keen interest in resolving the issues confronting the transport industry. They assured their continued cooperation in this regard. — APP
