ISLAMABAD, Feb 24 (APP):Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhary on Tuesday informed the Senate that the government was implementing measures aligned with international safety standards to control road accidents, including registration of FIRs against serious violations and cancellation of driving licences.
Responding to a Calling Attention Notice raised by Senator Zamir Hussain Ghumro regarding frequent fatal accidents on National Highway in Sindh due to lack of safety measures, the minister said road safety measures were being enforced uniformly across the country without any provincial discrimination.
He rejected the impression of discrepancies in safety enforcement on national highways, stating that accident prevention policies remained consistent throughout Pakistan.
The minister acknowledged that the number of fatalities from road accidents in Pakistan was comparatively higher than many other countries.
Providing details regarding Sindh, he said a 936-kilometre network of national highways fell within the province, including major routes such as the M-9, N-5 and N-55.
He said round-the-clock patrolling was being carried out on key highways, while additional monitoring was ensured during peak traffic hours to minimize risks.
Tariq Fazal said awareness initiatives, including road safety campaigns, seminars and educational programmes, were being conducted across all provinces, including Sindh.
Highlighting recent policy shifts, he said the government had introduced stricter enforcement mechanisms aimed at deterrence.
He said penalties for over-speeding had been enhanced, while vehicles involved in serious violations could now be impounded following the registration of FIRs.
The minister informed the House that the cancellation of driving licences had also been introduced as a preventive measure against reckless driving.
He said the new enforcement framework was designed to discourage habitual violations, noting that financial penalties alone often proved ineffective.