ISLAMABAD, Jan 28: The government on Monday decided to form a committee to harmonise age factor of various types of transport as part of modernisation of the trucking sector.

The decision was taken in a meeting held here to review implementation on modernisation of the trucking sector.

An official announcement said that it was also decided that the committee will also deal with other issues concerning provincial governments and various agencies regarding registration, and training etc. It was proposed that only 10-year old trucks should be allowed to ply on motorway while age of trucks for other roads was fixed at 25 years.

The training of drivers was classified as most important issue of the transport sector. The manufacturers assured their willingness to establish driving training institutes in their premises. The need of establishing driving schools at divisional headquarters was also felt.

The meeting directed the Pakistan Standards Quality Authority (PSQA) to finalise national standards and specifications for trucks and trailers by March 31, 2008 so that these could be notified by the ministry of industries. The representative of PSQA briefed the meeting about the progress made so far.

The meeting was informed that the National Industrial Parks Development and Management Company have already acquired land in Lahore and Karachi for establishing Trans-freight stations. The company was also working for the establishment of an industrial estate for trucking sector at Lahore.

The secretary clarified that the role of ministry was limited to coordination as various agencies were concerned with the implementation on trucking policy as approved by the Economic Coordination Committee.

It was decided that the Engineering Development Board (EDB) will hire the services of a consultant, who would determine the burden on national exchequer on account of special financial relief provided to the private sector transport companies.