Rawalpindi. (Parliament Times): The caretaker Provincial Minister of Transport and Livestock Punjab Ibrahim Murad along with Commissioner Rawalpindi Liaqat Ali Chatha presided over a meeting in Commissioner Office Rawalpindi. Additional Commissioner Coordination Syed Nizarat Ali, DG RDA Saif Anwar Jappa, CTO Police Taimur Khan, Secretary RTA and Officers of other departments participated in the meeting and discussed the traffic problems in Rawalpindi. On this occasion, the provincial minister was told in the briefing that VICS stations are being built in Rawalpindi and Jhelum to check the vehicles. The provincial minister was told in the briefing regarding anti-smog measures that 2674 vehicles were checked in August and September this year in the Rawalpindi division, out of which 1876 vehicles were challaned and 137 vehicles were impounded for violating anti-smog SOPs. Addressing the meeting, Provincial Minister Ibrahim Murad said that pollution is being faced due to indiscriminate traffic. Anti-smog SOPs should be strictly followed. Smoke-emitting vehicles should be seized and closed and legal action should be taken against the owners. Practical steps should be taken regarding law enforcement and improvement of traffic management. He said that traffic rules must be observed to prevent accidents and achieve orderly traffic. Wrong parking and illegal parking stands should be eliminated immediately. In case of violation of traffic rules, the driver’s license should be checked first. Actions against unregistered vehicles should be accelerated. On this occasion, Commissioner Rawalpindi Division Liaqat Ali Chatha said that a zero-tolerance policy is being adopted regarding anti-smog measures. To eliminate environmental pollution, the relevant departments should speed up their efforts. He said that strict legal action will be taken against the kiln owners who violate the smog SOPs.
