Daily Times

DIG/Commandant National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP) Training College Sheikhpura Mehboob Aslam Sunday said more equipment and manpower is needed to cope with the burgeoning traffic flow on the motorways and the highways.

In an interview here, he said the traffic flow has increased by 300 percent since 1997 when motorway (M2) was launched. He said no new equipment in the form of vehicles and gear has been allocated to the NHMP since its inception in 1997, adding that it is need of the hour to equip the force with latest equipment to meet the traffic challenges of the highways which have increased from 1,200 kilometers to 3,000 kilometers. About the efficiency, he said despite meager resources, the force has been able to significantly control the number of accidents by 40 percent as compared with 2005 statistics.

He stressed the need to enhance facilities at the NHMP Training College, adding that more than 12,000 inductions will be made in the force after the increased traffic activity due to the CPEC.

About his initiatives as commandant of the training college, the DIG said the college library has been renovated while curriculum review committee has been constituted besides installing new sound system at the auditorium and conference hall. He said the provision of modern HTV driving simulator is another initiative which will help train drivers on the motorways and reduce the risk of accidents.

About Shaheed Addl IG Sifwat Ghayur, DIG Aslam said the installation of memorial for Sifwat Ghayur is a recognition of the services of a fearless police officer who embraced martyrdom fighting for the motherland. He said Sifwat Ghayur is a role model for the police force and a beacon of light for all.

About training, he said ethics and morality are the cardinal principles of training under him at the NHMP Training College, adding the main focus of training is to inculcate the moral values which will revolutionise working of the force.

To a query, he said the traffic controllers must not lose touch with nicety and politeness while giving fine tickets to the angry commuters over traffic violations.

The commandant said he has also decided to update the training modules at the academy, adding that same syllabus was being taught previously for the trainings from constables to the deputy superintendent of police. He further said all training syllabi are being revised in collaboration with the Interagency Career Transition Assistance Program (ICTAP) of the US embassy as per the international standards and guidelines by the United Nations.

About controlling traffic accidents, he said traffic education should be part of the syllabus at an early age for children as it will sensitize them about traffic rules for the rest of their lives and help control the road accidents significantly.