KP fails to pay traffic warden package equivalent to NH&MP

CM had issued official directives in July 2015

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has failed to pay a package equivalent to that of the National Highways and Motorway Police (NH&MP) to the Traffic Wardens despite the announcement made by the chief minister last year, a source told The News.

“Chief Minister Pervez Khattak had announced a special pay package equal to that of NHMP during the inauguration ceremony of the force at Malik Saad Shaheed Police Lines on June 18, 2015. The chief minister had issued directives vide letter No. SO VI/CMS/KPK/6-7/2015 on July 28, 2015,” a source told The News.

The purpose was to encourage honest professionals who have no interest in minting money from posting at the police stations.

It was learnt that the Police Department in response to the chief minister’s directives forwarded a summary vide letter No 8043/A-3 on August 12, 2015 for approval of special allowance for officers and officials of Traffic Warden Police.

“However, even after eight months, the summary is pending for approval due to the red-tape in government departments. Many disheartened wardens have already started making efforts to manage their posting back in their districts,” the source added.

The source continued that the lack of financial incentive is going to have a negative impact on the overall performance of Traffic Warden Police Peshawar as well as the introduction of such a system in Abbottabad and Swat.

The Traffic Warden Police was launched in Peshawar by Chief Minister Pervez Khattak on June 18, 2015. The purpose was to transform the force into well-trained professional Traffic Wardens, equipped with modern traffic management techniques, services and tools, in highly service-oriented mode by being courteous, disciplined and accountable to the people. 

The announcement of special package motivates mostly honest cops who were not interested in making money at police stations. This was despite the fact that many traffic cops have come under attack by the target killers recently as they are an easy prey. The wardens have now been directed to carry guns and wear a bulletproof jacket while regulating traffic in urban, suburban and rural areas. 

“Inspector General of Police Nasir Khan Durrani in a letter to the government has requested for allotment of 32 kanal of land in Phase-VII Hayatabad for setting up a proper Traffic Wardens headquarters with barracks for around 600 personnel, office of the senior superintendent of police (SSP) and other requirements,” added the source.

A superintendent of police at the Central Police Office, Mohammad Afzal, said a number of projects have been initiated to improve the flow of traffic on roads. He added that the projects included introduction of Traffic DJ, distribution of traffic laws literature and digital fixtures visible on various road junctions, holding seminars and visits of Mobile Traffic Awareness Units and

 setting up traffic Driving School. Mohammad Afzal said the force has introduced mobile traffic workshop unit, ambulance service, accident recovery unit for rescuing and providing relief to the occupants of a broken-down vehicle, mobile driving license unit for issuing on-spot learners’ permit, dedicated helpline 1915 and SMS Traffic Update.

“A centralised Traffic Monitoring Unit with CCTV cameras installed at all major junctions in the city has been established to keep real time check on all potential congestions and divert the mobile units accordingly. Sixty heavy engine motorcycles have also been given to Traffic Warden Police to make it proactive in order to help the local police as well,” added SP Mohammad Afzal.