Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif inaugurated the first and the most modern Vehicle Inspection and Certification System (VICS) of the country in Kala Shah Kaku, Sheikhupura on Saturday. After inaugurating the system, he inspected its station and reviewed in detail all phases of inspection and certification of vehicles. He was also given a briefing on this occasion.
The chief minister said that this latest system has been introduced with the cooperation of a prominent Swedish international company OPUS for the safety of the people travelling on roads. He said that scope of the system will be extended to the whole province. He said that this system will also reduce cases of car theft.
Later, addressing the inaugural ceremony of VICS, Shehbaz Sharif said that Punjab government has launched a big programme which has been initiated from Kala Shah Kaku, Sheikhupura. He said that a total of 39 stations will be set up under VICS in Punjab by the end of 2017 whereas three centres will be established in Lahore. He said that the scope of this programme will be extended to the whole province.
He said that it is a big programme not in terms of cost or size but with regard to the safety of those travelling on roads. The chief minister thanked Provincial Law Minister Rana Sana Ullah, chief secretary, secretary transport and authorities of OPUS Company and said that it is the first project of its kind which will cost one billion rupees and its sole purpose is safety of common man and travelers. He said that the new system will completely change the existing setup.
He said that death of passengers due to decrepit vehicles and defective breaks is a tragedy. The chief minister said that the transporters and vehicle owners who will cooperate voluntarily will be given due respect while non-cooperative elements will be sent to police stations and jails. He said that loss of innocent lives cannot be afforded.
He said that the center set up at Kala Shah Kaku under VICS is fully computerised and modern equipment has been installed for the checking of vehicles. The chief minister further said that splendid measures are being taken under the leadership and guidance of Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif. He said that there is also a need to improve traffic system, adding that he has personally seen traffic police officials busy on mobile phones without caring for their duty of streamlining traffic.
The chief minister while addressing Inspector General Police (IGP) directed him to take immediate steps for improving traffic system in Punjab. He said that it is an open secret that bogus driving licenses are also issued and those holding such licenses drive carelessly which results in accidents. He said that Punjab government has also decided to establish Driving Licensing Authority to improve the system of driving licenses.
He said that the authority will operate on the pattern of VICS and added that bogus driving licenses are issued due to corruption in the existing system, but now the entire system is being outsourced which will result in improvement. The chief minister congratulated the authorities concerned over the successful completion of the modern system. Referring to Sahiwal Coal Power Project, Shehbaz Sharif said this power project of 1320 megawatts was to be completed in December 2017 but now it will be completed in June 2017. He said that it is by the grace of Almighty Allah and hard work of those working on the project that the project which was being ridiculed last year has become a reality. He said that completion of such a big project in such a short period is unprecedented. He said that work is also in progress speedily on Port Qasim Coal Power Plant.