F.P. Report
PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan has directed for constituting a committee under the chairmanship of KP Secretary Finance for checking traffic problems downtown Peshawar city and making a comprehensive traffic plan for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT).
The committee will look into the matter of establishing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Urban Mobility Authority (KPUMA) under the supervision of transport department in this regard and also formulate comprehensive traffic plan for the purpose.
These decisions were taken during a meeting held here at CM Secretariat with Chief Minister Mahmood Khan in the chair.
The meeting was attended by District Nazim Arbab Asim, Additional Chief Secretary Sehahzad Bangash, Secretary Finance Shakil Qadir, Secretary Transport Kamran Khan, Secretary Local government Zahir Shah, CEO Cantonment Board, DIG Traffic Dr. Akhter Ali Shah, MD KPUMA and Nadir Ihsan.
The chief minister has tasked the committee to finalize all necessary arrangements for completing the homework for setting up KPUMA within a month period. The committee besides Secretary Transport and Secretary LG & RD would also include Dr. Akhter Ali Shah.
The meeting made a number of decisions on different matters including implementation on decisions of the previous meeting, evolving administrative structure of the authority, recruitment of the staff, service regulations, partial approval of the budget, shifting of the authority assets, recruitment posting of Managing Director on contract and amendments in the concerned rules and regulations. The Chief Minister directed the concerned high ups to expedite work on implementing the decisions including recruitment of the staff during the current month and meeting the targets as per the timelines. He said that hiring a qualified Managing Director from the market will be a step towards corporate governance so that the institutions could perform in a free and independent environment in the province.
He said that all such appointments should be made on contract basis so that its performance could be gauged from every aspect and talented people could be inducted in the authority.
He was apprised of the transport and licensing policy of the authority besides recruitment of MD and other concerned staff. Similarly, the Chief Minister was also informed of the amendments made in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Urban Mobility Act, 2018.
Mahmood Khan expressed the confidence that BRT would emerge as the first modern and disciplined public transport system in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He said that provincial government was going to streamline the transport industry on scientific lines in the province very soon wherein the locals would also have maximum jobs besides availability of latest transport facilities in the city. He also hoped that transport and KPUMA would also fix its powers in respect of licensing and other related matters so that both the department and authority could dispose of its responsibilities in befitting manner. He said that solving the complicated problems of traffic congestion in Peshawar city and evolving full time durable solution for this purpose was among the top most priorities of the provincial government.
The Chief Minister underlined the need of completing the homework for all the needs and requirements for establishment of KPUMA. He further asked for presenting all the details and progress made in this respect at the concerned forum as soon as possible. He also directed for ensuring all the recruitments in KPUMA purely on merit basis. He made it clear that the provincial government would spare no efforts to complete the BRT project in the earliest. He hoped that early completion of this mega project would greatly help in overcoming the traffic problems in Peshawar city. Similarly he said that establishment of KPUMA would also introduce a modern and disciplined traffic system in the province.
The said that provincial government would try its level best to resolve all problems of Peshawar city on priority basis as he said it was the metropolis of the province. He said that traffic hazard was the main issue of this mega city whereas the candid steps of provincial government would greatly help in introducing a new system of infrastructure that would considerably add to its beautification. He said that he was also confident that completion of the BRT and establishment of KPUMA would enable the government to overcome the traffic problems in Peshawar city for good.
