KARACHI: Statistics show that 98 percent of Karachi’s 1.7 million road-plying vehicles are parked for an average of eight hours a day and many of them, both private and commercial, are parked on roads and streets.
A well-placed official in the CDGK told Daily Times on Monday that migration to the city, an increasing population, and easy leasing combined to put a heavy load on the city’s 11 sites reserved for parking. This results in illegal encroachment of land by transporters, coupled with the involvement of the traffic police and the lack of proper planning by the competent authorities.
Parking on the street accounts for 70 percent of all parking and 24 percent of parking is done on walking spaces or encroached land. Four percent is on privately-owned land, often associated with buildings while the remaining two percent of parking is controlled by the CDGK at 11 parking sites, auctioned to private contractors for a year.
The auctioning generated Rs 90 million in 2005 and Rs 11,928,000 in 2007-08, while bids for 2008-09 amount to Rs 15,409,000.
In Saddar, the total well-arranged parking capacity is for 1,799 vehicles at a time, but on average 22,724 vehicles are being parked, including on the street. Tariq Road has a parking capacity for 630 vehicles but 12,394 vehicles are being parked there.
The CDGK has opted to construct eight multi-storied parking plazas, of which one, the Lines Area plaza, near Saddar Dawa Khana, is being completed at a cost of Rs 293 million, with a capacity of 710 cars and 300 motorcycles, said the official. One near the KPT underpass, spread over 2,932 square yards, with a capacity of 500 cars and 100 motorcycles, will cost Rs 225 million. Tenders for two more plazas have been invited, one at Civic Centre for 679 cars and 300 motorcycles, estimated at Rs 264 million, and the other near Empress Market for 1,980 cars and 220 motorcycles, estimated at Rs 1.6 billion.
An underground plaza under construction on Dr Ziauddin Ahmed Road will house 600 vehicles, while a project is under study at Jheel Park near Tariq Road for 3,000 vehicles. Work has been suspended on two plazas, one at Railway Stadium on I.I. Chundrigar Road and the other opposite the Stock Exchange Building at Merewether Tower, each for 3,000 cars, due to a failure to obtain possession of the required land from Pakistan Railways.
CDGK EDO Transport Badar Jamil Mendro said that different mafias in the city have encroached on land because of the negligence or involvement of the authorities concerned.
Work on inner city railway yet to begin: Plans for a Light Rapid Rail Mass Transit System (LRRMTS), studied by the World Bank in 1990, have yet to see the light of day, despite federal approval in 2004, well-placed officers in the City District Government Karachi’s (CDGK) Mass Transit Cell revealed to Daily Times, adding that the lack of interest by federal and provincial governments has made this an orphaned project.
The officer explained that there are two main routes planned for the inner city railway. Corridor I is from Sohrab Goth to Merewether Tower, covering 18 km at a cost of US$ 350 million, while Corridor II will cover 17 km from Orangi Town to Cantt Station and will cost US$ 300 million.
The project has come under fire from various social and political factions and the building of colonies not included in the initial plan has made things worse.
The LRRMTS is capable of lowering traffic congestion in Karachi by 50 percent and will open numerous doors for revenue generation for the Sindh government and provide livelihood for more than 5,000 families, noted the officer.
The project can be operational within three years and is expected to generate up to Rs 2 billion in direct income from fares and indirect income from the establishment of over 500 retail outlets, tuck shops, restaurants and other small establishments associated with the system.
Unfortunately, no authority has been given the responsibility of clearing the land for the projects, which seems to be one of the bigger hurdles in the way. Karachi Port Trust, Pakistan Railways (PR), Evacuee Property Trust and some private parties are the primary landowners concerned. These areas have been grossly encroached and slums with legal gas, power and water connections are widely spread there. The land mafia, with the help of the area police and some officials have taken over the land, explained the sources.
With a capacity of over 70,000 passengers per trip per hour, the LRRMTS looks like the only logical solution to traffic congestion in the city.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Monday, July 14, 2008
What the Corolla really wants, what it really really wants: To be a VW Beetle
If you haven’t already figured it out, what you see above is not made in Germany. Or is it? Nope… definitely not. Its the product of German inspiration, Japan sheet metal and Pakistani ingenuity. Yeah you read that right, I said ingenuity. In a country where Volkswagens are not officially sold and importing one privately can cost up to $60,000, things can get pretty desperate for fans of Bavarian chick mobiles. So much so that one man has dug through piles of car parts to build his own Beetle. The problem though is that none of the parts come from a Beetle. Not even a VW. The chassis is from a Toyota Corolla AE-100, the door handles off a Toyota Corolla E-120, side mirrors nicked from a Honda Civic and seats right out of a BMW. If you’re looking for authenticity, I’m sorry to say you won’t be happy. Well, that’s unless you can find comfort knowing the only original parts are the badges and lights. 
Source: Japancarblog
Top Gear - Season 11, Episode 4 - 2008.07.13 - Torrent Link
Jeremy Clarkson attempts to drive the new Nissan GT-R across Japan faster than Richard Hammond and James May, who make the same journey on the legendary Bullet Train. Plus, Richard tries Toyota’s idea of personal transport for the future, the sensational Alfa Romeo 8C brings glamour to the Top Gear track, and newsreaders Fiona Bruce and Kate Silverton are the Stars in the Reasonably Priced Car.
Torrent Link : http://www.mininova.org/tor/1594135
Source : Finalgear
Torrent Link : http://www.mininova.org/tor/1594135
Source : Finalgear
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Pakistan yet to adopt fuel emission standards
KARACHI: The world is moving towards Euro III and Euro IV fuel emission standards to protect the environment and keeping with that trend the developing world has to adopt European emission standards.
These standards are a set of requirements defining acceptable limits for vehicle emissions. Pakistan has yet to implement these emission standards in order to introduce environment-friendly vehicles. It has missed the earlier deadline, which was July 1, 2008 for Euro II compliance in the case of petrol and the new deadline is January 1, 2009. Similarly, Euro II compliance deadline for diesel has been extended and the new deadline is January 10, 2012.
An official of the Environment Protection Agency said the government was working with all segments concerned to adopt Euro II standards. In this regard, a pivotal role is being played by the Ministry of Petroleum along with the Ministry of Environment and auto manufacturers. Roadmaps are already there and all sectors are working on them extensively but one of the major barriers is the cost.
He said the Ministry of Environment had constituted Clean Fuel Committee in 1995-96 and in that regard work and recommendations were made to work on CNG, biofuels, lead-free fuel, etc. Lead-free fuel was introduced in 2000 and CNG introduction and promotion also took place after 2000.
He said in order to comply with Euro II standards the refineries were needed to be upgraded which required heavy investment. However, the refineries are working to produce Euro II-compliant petrol and diesel but the production cost is very high. In the case of diesel, the cost is much higher than petrol. Upgradation of diesel refineries requires $700 million, which is very high.
Similarly, he said, auto manufacturers are required to come up with Euro II vehicles and they have based some of their models on Euro II and Euro III standards. Pak Suzuki’s Liana, Indus Motor’s Toyota Altis and Honda Civic are Euro III standard vehicles.
The auto sector said there were a few models which complied with Euro II standards and talks were going on with the government to exempt imports of Euro II standard engines and parts from certain duties as the local vendors were not yet prepared to meet the demand.
Sources disclosed that it was expected that within a few months more and more Euro II standard vehicles would be available in the country. Most of the imported vehicles in the country are Euro II and Euro III compliant, but fuel is not yet available in the market.
The EPA official said lead-free fuel was partially complying with Euro II standards. He said the Euro II standards were for all private and public vehicles, which were on roads and in that regard a roadmap had been made to gradually phase out old public vehicles. The Punjab government is working on it and they have already started phasing out old two-stroke auto rickshaws and are introducing new green CNG auto rickshaws.
On the other hand, Aftab Husain, General Manager Commercial & Corporate Pakistan Refinery Limited, said “for petrol we have been meeting the Euro II specifications since 2002. But for diesel we are going to install diesel hydro-treater to remove sulphur from the fuel and make it possible to meet the specifications in 2012.”
He added there were no standards for vehicular emission monitoring, fitness, maintenance, tuning and technology in Pakistan. The NEQS for motor vehicle exhaust and noise was introduced in 1993 and revised in 1999. Vehicular pollution can cause life-threatening diseases such as cardiovascular effects, bronchial irritation, lung cancer, anemia, asthma, eye irritation, nervous system impairment and lowering of IQ. Most major urban centres experience significant and persistent air quality problems.
He said fuel quality improvement required mega investment. Because of financial problems and government relaxation, Pakistan is still behind to meet the Euro II specifications of diesel.
Many developed countries have shifted to European emission standards and developing countries are also moving towards this.
Moscow has banned entry of pre-Euro II standard vehicles in the city centre in order to protect environment.
These standards are a set of requirements defining acceptable limits for vehicle emissions. Pakistan has yet to implement these emission standards in order to introduce environment-friendly vehicles. It has missed the earlier deadline, which was July 1, 2008 for Euro II compliance in the case of petrol and the new deadline is January 1, 2009. Similarly, Euro II compliance deadline for diesel has been extended and the new deadline is January 10, 2012.
An official of the Environment Protection Agency said the government was working with all segments concerned to adopt Euro II standards. In this regard, a pivotal role is being played by the Ministry of Petroleum along with the Ministry of Environment and auto manufacturers. Roadmaps are already there and all sectors are working on them extensively but one of the major barriers is the cost.
He said the Ministry of Environment had constituted Clean Fuel Committee in 1995-96 and in that regard work and recommendations were made to work on CNG, biofuels, lead-free fuel, etc. Lead-free fuel was introduced in 2000 and CNG introduction and promotion also took place after 2000.
He said in order to comply with Euro II standards the refineries were needed to be upgraded which required heavy investment. However, the refineries are working to produce Euro II-compliant petrol and diesel but the production cost is very high. In the case of diesel, the cost is much higher than petrol. Upgradation of diesel refineries requires $700 million, which is very high.
Similarly, he said, auto manufacturers are required to come up with Euro II vehicles and they have based some of their models on Euro II and Euro III standards. Pak Suzuki’s Liana, Indus Motor’s Toyota Altis and Honda Civic are Euro III standard vehicles.
The auto sector said there were a few models which complied with Euro II standards and talks were going on with the government to exempt imports of Euro II standard engines and parts from certain duties as the local vendors were not yet prepared to meet the demand.
Sources disclosed that it was expected that within a few months more and more Euro II standard vehicles would be available in the country. Most of the imported vehicles in the country are Euro II and Euro III compliant, but fuel is not yet available in the market.
The EPA official said lead-free fuel was partially complying with Euro II standards. He said the Euro II standards were for all private and public vehicles, which were on roads and in that regard a roadmap had been made to gradually phase out old public vehicles. The Punjab government is working on it and they have already started phasing out old two-stroke auto rickshaws and are introducing new green CNG auto rickshaws.
On the other hand, Aftab Husain, General Manager Commercial & Corporate Pakistan Refinery Limited, said “for petrol we have been meeting the Euro II specifications since 2002. But for diesel we are going to install diesel hydro-treater to remove sulphur from the fuel and make it possible to meet the specifications in 2012.”
He added there were no standards for vehicular emission monitoring, fitness, maintenance, tuning and technology in Pakistan. The NEQS for motor vehicle exhaust and noise was introduced in 1993 and revised in 1999. Vehicular pollution can cause life-threatening diseases such as cardiovascular effects, bronchial irritation, lung cancer, anemia, asthma, eye irritation, nervous system impairment and lowering of IQ. Most major urban centres experience significant and persistent air quality problems.
He said fuel quality improvement required mega investment. Because of financial problems and government relaxation, Pakistan is still behind to meet the Euro II specifications of diesel.
Many developed countries have shifted to European emission standards and developing countries are also moving towards this.
Moscow has banned entry of pre-Euro II standard vehicles in the city centre in order to protect environment.
Bikes rates up on rupee fall, high steel prices
By Moonis Ahmed
KARACHI: In the wake of losing strength of the rupee against dollar and rising rates of steel, the Japanese and Chinese motorbike producers have increased prices.
Frequent increase in the bikes’ prices during the last two months along with recent decision of price hike by the assemblers on different models has affected the sales of motorbikes, which have declined by around 20 percent in the past month, dealers at Akber Road told Daily Times.
They said that due to ever sky rocketing petroleum prices and increase in bikes’ prices, the demand for motorbikes has plummeted all over the country.
The three leading motorcycles including Atlas Honda Limited, DYL Motorcycles and Pak Suzuki Motorcycle Limited have raised prices on their models by Rs 1,000 to Rs 4,000 per unit.
The Atlas Honda motorcycle makers have increased the rate of CD-70 to Rs 56,400. In April, its price was Rs 50,500 and in March Rs 49,900.
Similarly, the CD-100 by Atlas Honda is now priced at Rs 61,400 from Rs 57,000 in May.
The popular model by the Honda CG-125 is tagged at Rs 76,400, however it was available at Rs 71,000 two months ago.
The Pak Suzuki Motor Company Limited has increased its prices by Rs 1,000 to 4,000 as well. The Suzuki-110 CC is available at Rs 53,800 from Rs 49,800. The price of Suzuki-125 is tagged at Rs 66,800 while it was available at Rs 64,800 previously. Suzuki-150 is available at Rs 72,800, as compared to Rs 68,800.
Similarly, DYL Motorcycles Limited has also jacked up the rates. The YD-100 is now priced at Rs 63,300, its previous price was Rs 61,300 and the price of 100-CC Junoon is Rs 65,250 as compared to the former price at Rs 63,300.
Similarly, Chinese bike makers have also spiked their price by Rs1,500 owing to rising cost of material and parts. They had increased the rates by same amount last month.
Chairman, Association of Pakistan Motorcycle Assemblers, Mohammad Sabir Shaikh, said that the average wholesale price of a Chinese bike was now Rs 37,000 as compared to Rs 35,000 last month.
China has also increased raw material prices due to which Chinese assemblers have raised the prices as well.
About 350 to 400 bikes per day were being sold four months ago, but now the condition has worsen and hardly 100 bikes are being sold all over Karachi. In December 2007, one dollar was equal to Rs 61 as compared to Rs 71 in May. If the rupee fails to gain its value against the dollar the bike makers will face problems and they will have to further increase the rates.
He added that Chinese bike makers had enhanced the rate twice since April, while the Japanese made three times increase in prices.
The bike-maker had assured that within five years capability would be developed for local manufacturing through vendors.
KARACHI: In the wake of losing strength of the rupee against dollar and rising rates of steel, the Japanese and Chinese motorbike producers have increased prices.
Frequent increase in the bikes’ prices during the last two months along with recent decision of price hike by the assemblers on different models has affected the sales of motorbikes, which have declined by around 20 percent in the past month, dealers at Akber Road told Daily Times.
They said that due to ever sky rocketing petroleum prices and increase in bikes’ prices, the demand for motorbikes has plummeted all over the country.
The three leading motorcycles including Atlas Honda Limited, DYL Motorcycles and Pak Suzuki Motorcycle Limited have raised prices on their models by Rs 1,000 to Rs 4,000 per unit.
The Atlas Honda motorcycle makers have increased the rate of CD-70 to Rs 56,400. In April, its price was Rs 50,500 and in March Rs 49,900.
Similarly, the CD-100 by Atlas Honda is now priced at Rs 61,400 from Rs 57,000 in May.
The popular model by the Honda CG-125 is tagged at Rs 76,400, however it was available at Rs 71,000 two months ago.
The Pak Suzuki Motor Company Limited has increased its prices by Rs 1,000 to 4,000 as well. The Suzuki-110 CC is available at Rs 53,800 from Rs 49,800. The price of Suzuki-125 is tagged at Rs 66,800 while it was available at Rs 64,800 previously. Suzuki-150 is available at Rs 72,800, as compared to Rs 68,800.
Similarly, DYL Motorcycles Limited has also jacked up the rates. The YD-100 is now priced at Rs 63,300, its previous price was Rs 61,300 and the price of 100-CC Junoon is Rs 65,250 as compared to the former price at Rs 63,300.
Similarly, Chinese bike makers have also spiked their price by Rs1,500 owing to rising cost of material and parts. They had increased the rates by same amount last month.
Chairman, Association of Pakistan Motorcycle Assemblers, Mohammad Sabir Shaikh, said that the average wholesale price of a Chinese bike was now Rs 37,000 as compared to Rs 35,000 last month.
China has also increased raw material prices due to which Chinese assemblers have raised the prices as well.
About 350 to 400 bikes per day were being sold four months ago, but now the condition has worsen and hardly 100 bikes are being sold all over Karachi. In December 2007, one dollar was equal to Rs 61 as compared to Rs 71 in May. If the rupee fails to gain its value against the dollar the bike makers will face problems and they will have to further increase the rates.
He added that Chinese bike makers had enhanced the rate twice since April, while the Japanese made three times increase in prices.
The bike-maker had assured that within five years capability would be developed for local manufacturing through vendors.
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Car sales dropped 13pc in FY08
Saturday, July 12, 2008
By our correspondent
The News
KARACHI: Local car market suffered another year of declining sales in 2007-08 as car purchases dropped by 13 per cent due to various factors.
The weak sales during the year had been primarily due to uncertain political and economic conditions, halt in auto financing by banks due to loan defaults, increase in interest rates resulting in expensive auto financing, rise in prices due to imposition of withholding tax and excise duty, further increase in prices because of rising costs and continued influx of second hand imported CBUs (completely built units), said Bilal Hameed, auto analyst at JS Global Capital.
According to figures for auto sales released by the Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association (PAMA), he said auto sales (cars and light commercial vehicles) dropped 8 per cent at 187,412 units in FY08 compared to 204,212 units sold last year. Interestingly, on month-on-month basis, auto sales rose 11 per cent in June this year.
He said the increase in monthly sales had been due to the year-end effect. Assemblers as well as their distributors need to achieve their targets by the end of the year for which aggressive marketing policies are implemented. The assemblers offer incentives to their distributors in terms of higher commission on sales if targets are achieved. Moreover, sales of LCVs rose on account of harvesting season.
Looking at car sales alone, it showed a poor performance during FY08 and fell by 11 per cent to 147,441 units against 165,268 units last year. The share of cars and LCVs in total auto sales came to 79 per cent and 21 per cent respectively.
He added all four major vehicle assemblers depicted a negative growth during the year under review.
However, Pak Suzuki and Indus Motor performed relatively better as their sales dropped by 7pc and 2pc respectively. Other assemblers, Dewan Farooque and Honda Atlas, posted negative growth of 25pc and 23pc respectively.
Another auto analyst Mohammad Rehan Khan at First Capital Research said the fall in overall market could be attributed to price hikes made to pass on the impact of rising input costs, followed by a slowdown in car financing amid rising mark-up rates, political instability and presence of alternatives like CBUs.
Completely knocked down (CKD) kits share improved to 91 per cent in the local market despite an 8 per cent lower volume. Performance of locally assembled vehicles or CKD remained sluggish during FY08. Cumulative sales of locally made private cars and light commercial vehicles stood at 187,000 units during the year against 204,000 the previous year, he added.
With shrinking trading and economic activities, the performance of LCV segment also remained muted, recording a meagre growth of 3 per cent at 40,000 units compared to 39,000 previously. The share of LCVs in CKD pie during FY08 increased to 21pc against previous level of 19pc.
He said the market share of used CBUs had kept shrinking owing to the restrictions imposed on import of higher age cars. Their share in the total market dropped to 9pc compared to 13pc the previous year.
During FY08, 18,000 CBUs (6,000 new and 12,000 used) were imported.
In the overall market, used cars captured 6pc share, which was 10pc a year earlier.
“It is not expected that local car sales will resume the previous growth trend in the near term owing to slowdown in auto finance amid rising mark-up rates and pass-on impact of cost rises while the newly imposed levies on car purchase are likely to increase prices over the affordability level of buyers,” he said.
Moreover, the margins of the sector are also anticipated to remain under pressure owing to rising steel prices and an unfavourable exchange rate.
By our correspondent
The News
KARACHI: Local car market suffered another year of declining sales in 2007-08 as car purchases dropped by 13 per cent due to various factors.
The weak sales during the year had been primarily due to uncertain political and economic conditions, halt in auto financing by banks due to loan defaults, increase in interest rates resulting in expensive auto financing, rise in prices due to imposition of withholding tax and excise duty, further increase in prices because of rising costs and continued influx of second hand imported CBUs (completely built units), said Bilal Hameed, auto analyst at JS Global Capital.
According to figures for auto sales released by the Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association (PAMA), he said auto sales (cars and light commercial vehicles) dropped 8 per cent at 187,412 units in FY08 compared to 204,212 units sold last year. Interestingly, on month-on-month basis, auto sales rose 11 per cent in June this year.
He said the increase in monthly sales had been due to the year-end effect. Assemblers as well as their distributors need to achieve their targets by the end of the year for which aggressive marketing policies are implemented. The assemblers offer incentives to their distributors in terms of higher commission on sales if targets are achieved. Moreover, sales of LCVs rose on account of harvesting season.
Looking at car sales alone, it showed a poor performance during FY08 and fell by 11 per cent to 147,441 units against 165,268 units last year. The share of cars and LCVs in total auto sales came to 79 per cent and 21 per cent respectively.
He added all four major vehicle assemblers depicted a negative growth during the year under review.
However, Pak Suzuki and Indus Motor performed relatively better as their sales dropped by 7pc and 2pc respectively. Other assemblers, Dewan Farooque and Honda Atlas, posted negative growth of 25pc and 23pc respectively.
Another auto analyst Mohammad Rehan Khan at First Capital Research said the fall in overall market could be attributed to price hikes made to pass on the impact of rising input costs, followed by a slowdown in car financing amid rising mark-up rates, political instability and presence of alternatives like CBUs.
Completely knocked down (CKD) kits share improved to 91 per cent in the local market despite an 8 per cent lower volume. Performance of locally assembled vehicles or CKD remained sluggish during FY08. Cumulative sales of locally made private cars and light commercial vehicles stood at 187,000 units during the year against 204,000 the previous year, he added.
With shrinking trading and economic activities, the performance of LCV segment also remained muted, recording a meagre growth of 3 per cent at 40,000 units compared to 39,000 previously. The share of LCVs in CKD pie during FY08 increased to 21pc against previous level of 19pc.
He said the market share of used CBUs had kept shrinking owing to the restrictions imposed on import of higher age cars. Their share in the total market dropped to 9pc compared to 13pc the previous year.
During FY08, 18,000 CBUs (6,000 new and 12,000 used) were imported.
In the overall market, used cars captured 6pc share, which was 10pc a year earlier.
“It is not expected that local car sales will resume the previous growth trend in the near term owing to slowdown in auto finance amid rising mark-up rates and pass-on impact of cost rises while the newly imposed levies on car purchase are likely to increase prices over the affordability level of buyers,” he said.
Moreover, the margins of the sector are also anticipated to remain under pressure owing to rising steel prices and an unfavourable exchange rate.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
More highways to be handed over to NH&MP
The News
Thursday, July 10, 2008
All the current and upcoming highways under the control of the federal government and the National Highways Authority (NHA) will be handed over to the National Highways and Motorway Police (NH&MP), credible sources told ‘The News’ here Wednesday.
A decision to this effect was taken at a high-level meeting of the Ministry of Communications. The National Highways and Motorway Police, which is already under pressure to maintain its standards of patrolling on the current jurisdiction, will be put to test when the Rawalpindi-Murree-Muzaffarabad highway known as the Pindi-Murree Super Highway and the Quetta-Karachi Highway known as the RCD Highway is handed over to it later this year. It has also been learnt that the Hasanabdal-Manshera section of the famous Karakuram Highway will also be handed over to NH&MP after its widening to a double carriage road by NHA.
According to well-placed sources, NH&MP is patrolling the Quetta-Karachi highway for which a total number of 450 officers against a request of 1,200 have been provided to it in the first phase while the remaining will be available in two more stages. Similarly, NH&MP has requested the federal government for another 70 officers for the Pindi-Murree Super Highway and another 230 for the Hasanabdal-Manshera section.
Replying to a question regarding increase in the number of accidents on motorways and highways, an official said, it was the increase in the number of traffic on the same roads that was resulting in increased number of accidents. “How can you control the accident rate when the number of vehicles entering and leaving the roads with the same infrastructure and width is increasing every passing day? We are, however, training our officers in different hospitals of the country to provide first aid to injured passengers,” he maintained.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
All the current and upcoming highways under the control of the federal government and the National Highways Authority (NHA) will be handed over to the National Highways and Motorway Police (NH&MP), credible sources told ‘The News’ here Wednesday.
A decision to this effect was taken at a high-level meeting of the Ministry of Communications. The National Highways and Motorway Police, which is already under pressure to maintain its standards of patrolling on the current jurisdiction, will be put to test when the Rawalpindi-Murree-Muzaffarabad highway known as the Pindi-Murree Super Highway and the Quetta-Karachi Highway known as the RCD Highway is handed over to it later this year. It has also been learnt that the Hasanabdal-Manshera section of the famous Karakuram Highway will also be handed over to NH&MP after its widening to a double carriage road by NHA.
According to well-placed sources, NH&MP is patrolling the Quetta-Karachi highway for which a total number of 450 officers against a request of 1,200 have been provided to it in the first phase while the remaining will be available in two more stages. Similarly, NH&MP has requested the federal government for another 70 officers for the Pindi-Murree Super Highway and another 230 for the Hasanabdal-Manshera section.
Replying to a question regarding increase in the number of accidents on motorways and highways, an official said, it was the increase in the number of traffic on the same roads that was resulting in increased number of accidents. “How can you control the accident rate when the number of vehicles entering and leaving the roads with the same infrastructure and width is increasing every passing day? We are, however, training our officers in different hospitals of the country to provide first aid to injured passengers,” he maintained.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Muslim eight to manufacture car
The Group of Eight Developing Islamic Countries has given the green light to a proposal by Iran on producing a joint automobile brand. "The Iranian-introduced proposal must be taken into consideration and acted upon by the private sectors of all D-8 members," said D-8 Secretary-General Dipo Alam in the Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur on Monday.
Alam added that in order for this plan to succeed D-8 members must closely cooperate, as 'budget shortfalls do not allow these governments to independently supply the high costs of auto production'.
The proposal was first floated by the Middle East's largest automaker, Iran Khodro Company.
In 2007, Iran's Foreign Ministry conferred on the proposal with the other seven members of the D-8 group, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey.
"Each year, Muslim countries import over 17 million vehicles from industrialized states, whose companies make handsome profits through these imports," read an introduction to the Iranian proposal, presented by Deputy Foreign Minister, Ali-Reza Sheikh-Attar in October 2007.
The 6th Summit of the Group of Eight Developing Islamic Countries will open on July 8, 2008 in Malaysia.
Fastening of seatbelts will be made mandatory
The Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) would launch a campaign to motivate motorists to fasten seatbelts and avoid use of mobile phones while driving.
The ITP would educate motorists on these two things this month and start issuing tickets from August 1, said SSP (Traffic) Muhammad Zubair Hashmi while addressing a press conference here on Thursday.
He said that an agreement has been signed by the Nadra chairman and the IGP for collection of fines through ‘e-Sahulat Scheme’. The 21 branches of National Bank of Pakistan in Islamabad will collect fine tickets till 3 p.m. However under the agreement, motorists would be able to deposit the fine money round-the-clock like utility bills through ‘e-Sahulat Scheme’,” the SSP said. He said that the ITP is maintaining data of those motorists who repeatedly violate traffic rules like over-speeding and jumping the red signal.
He said that the ITP issued tickets to 258,863 violators, including 219 VIPs, during last six months. Fines of Rs64,874,900 were imposed on violators. The ITP also took action against public service vehicle drivers for not completing their respective routes and impounded 1,164 vehicles, cancelled route permits of six vehicles and 18 driving licenses. Tickets worth Rs82,200 were issued to 2,055 motorcyclists for wheeling.
Source : The News
The ITP would educate motorists on these two things this month and start issuing tickets from August 1, said SSP (Traffic) Muhammad Zubair Hashmi while addressing a press conference here on Thursday.
He said that an agreement has been signed by the Nadra chairman and the IGP for collection of fines through ‘e-Sahulat Scheme’. The 21 branches of National Bank of Pakistan in Islamabad will collect fine tickets till 3 p.m. However under the agreement, motorists would be able to deposit the fine money round-the-clock like utility bills through ‘e-Sahulat Scheme’,” the SSP said. He said that the ITP is maintaining data of those motorists who repeatedly violate traffic rules like over-speeding and jumping the red signal.
He said that the ITP issued tickets to 258,863 violators, including 219 VIPs, during last six months. Fines of Rs64,874,900 were imposed on violators. The ITP also took action against public service vehicle drivers for not completing their respective routes and impounded 1,164 vehicles, cancelled route permits of six vehicles and 18 driving licenses. Tickets worth Rs82,200 were issued to 2,055 motorcyclists for wheeling.
Source : The News
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