Consultation process on road safety strategy approved

• Communications Ministry proposes activation of National Road Safety Council

 ISLAMABAD: The third National Steering Committee for the Development of Road Safety Plan for the National Highways & Motorways has approved the national consultation process for the ratification and implementation of the National Road Safety Strategy 2018-2030 and the Action Plan 2018-2022.

The meeting of the committee was held at the headquarters of the National Highways Authority (NHA) under the auspices of the Ministry of Communications. Both the plans approved by the committee were supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Department for International Development (DFID) of the United Kingdom.

The committee has also given the approval of the National Road Safety awareness campaign. In his address, Communications Secretary Furqan Bahadur Khan said that the road safety was a common responsibility. “This new strategy sets the overall long-term direction which can only be met, if the government, local authorities, partners and the civil society work together under a coordinated approach,” he said.

NHA Chairman Jawwad Rafique Malik said that a considerable development and extension has been made to road network during the last five years. “Increasing road accidents pose an immense challenge to us,” he said. In order to overcome accidents, he stressed upon the need of coordinated efforts among all the stakeholders. He assured to follow the mechanism to be adopted to control the accidents.

“As Pakistan is investing big to upgrade its transport and road infrastructure, matching efforts are required to catch up with other countries in boosting road safety standards,” said Xiaohong Yang, ADB country director. “Improving road safety not only means saving precious lives, but also ensuring sustainable and inclusive economic development through efficient connectivity between growth centers.”

To deliver more effective road safety management at all levels of the government, the ministry proposed the activation of the National Road Safety Council to coordinate delivery of the strategy and achieve the sustainable, system-wide changes required to improve road safety in the country. The proposed strategy is based on a safe system approach and includes key focus areas of action to deliver safe roads, safe road users, safer vehicles, and improved post-crash care.