Daily Times

ISLAMABAD: Overcharging and sale of low-quality products by businesses along the motorways must be stopped forthwith and the M-9 should be brought to the level of other motorways. This was said by National Assembly Standing Committee on Communications.

The committee was informed that travellers were being overcharged by businesses along the motorways and a number of businesses were selling subpar edibles. The committee directed National Highways Authority (NHA) to take action against those responsible and report back to the committee.

Moreover, the committee was informed that the M-9 lacked basic facilities which were available on the M-2 and other motorways and people had been making illegal entry points on the M-9. The committee recommended that steps should be taken to bring the M-9 up to the standard of other motorways.

The committee was briefed that several new highways had been constructed in Sindh and Balochistan, but Motorway Police could not be deployed on the newly constructed highways as the Finance Division had not approved necessary funds. The committee took notice of the issue and directed the Communications Division to resolve the issue within a month; otherwise, both the Finance Division and the Establishment Division would be called to appear before the committee and explain why they failed to perform their duties, the committee said.

The committee observed that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor was fast nearing completion but the Communications Division was still not ready to look after the motorways. The committee recommended that special attention must be given to the issue.

The committee was also informed that rise in the pay and allowances of Motorway Police was less than that of the provincial police. The committee directed that the pay and allowances of the employees of national highways and motorways should be enhanced as per approval and direction of Prime Minister of Pakistan.

The meeting was held at the National Highways and Motorway Police Islamabad headquarters and chaired by Standing Committee of National Assembly on Communications Chairman Muhammad Muzammil Qureshi. Others who attended the meeting included: Minister of State for Communications Muhammad Anwer Chaudhary; Members National Assembly Saleem Rehman, Hamid-ul-Haq Khalil, Sanjay Perwani, Naseema Hafeez Panezai, Usman Khan Tarakai, Shahjehan Muneer Mangrio; NHA Chairman Shahid Tarar and senior civil officers.

Published in Daily Times, October 20^th 2017.