Lahore:
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has ordered an increase with up to 10 times in traffic fines to improve public security and bring discipline to the roads, and has announced that the danger of any minor driver caught in the province will be held responsible for allowing him to drive.
The chairman of a meeting to review a proposal to change the uniform of the traffic police, she said, “A case will also be recorded, and a strict action will be taken against those running with damaged or extinguished headlights.”
She complained, “There is no improvement in the traffic system. Concrete and sustainable measures need to be taken. I personally go out and undergo the traffic situation on different roads in the city. Effective measures taken before road accidents occur is the only success.”
The main minister said, “A vehicle will be stopped if a chain, etc. hangs dangerously out of it.”
She added, “A case will be registered against unicorn or dangerous driving.”
She accepted a proposal to ban parking of cargo wagons on the sides of larger roads, in addition to imposing mobile phones while driving.
She instructed the affected authorities to remove obstacles in the flow of traffic on Bedian and other urban roads.
She also instructed the affected officials to attach video and photo evidence with the traffic challenges.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz ordered the department to create five categories of traffic police – enforcement manager, traffic regulator, education, license and public service manager.
She approved a proposal to supply modern patrol vehicles and latest equipment for the traffic police. She said traffic guards would issue Challans on camera to ensure transparency.
The minister also considered the redevelopment of 372 points in the province, including 77 in Lahore for Traffic Stream.
She also ordered the authorities to install digital screens on the roads for early detection of traffic jams.
Meanwhile, chief minister Maryam Nawaz inaugurated the country’s largest advanced cattle market in Shahpur Kanjran. She visited the model cattle market and reviewed the facilities.
She was informed in a briefing that Shahpur Kanjran model cattle market in Lahore will have the capacity to hold 25,000 large and 150,000 small animals, with 20 large sheds being built to keep cattle. The market is spread over an area of 74 acres. Fans have also been installed in the animal’s sheds for the first time in the cattle market.
A quarantine center has also been built in the model market to protect cattle from infectious diseases.
In addition, 20 large large housing spaces have been built for cattle traders. The market will also have the plant for a mosque, laundry room, veterinary clinic, tuck shop and an ATM.
A load and unloading of the bay and the truck center for light transport of cattle has been set up. There is also a spacious parking lot, police mail and a wide open area in the model cattle market.
An auction bay along with a modern slaughterhouse has also been established on the market.
Punjab’s second largest model cattle market will be built in Jhang.
The minister also issued a statement and expressed grief over the loss of life due to toxic gas in a paper mill in Ferozewala. She expressed sympathy and compassion for the families of the deceased and instructed the authorities concerned to provide the best medical facilities to the workers who suffered damage to the incident while also sought a report in this regard.
She ordered strict implementation of work security protocols in the factories and industrial zones.
