Motorway Police has become a symbol of pride for our Nation:President Mamnon Hussain

Lahore: The 15^th annual award ceremony of NH&MP was held in the President Secretariat Islamabad today. The President Islamic Republic of Pakistan Mamnon Hussain was the chief guest of the ceremony.

The ceremony was attended by federal Ministers, diplomats, senior bureaucrats, senior police officers, retired IGs, members of civil society and a large number of citizens attended the ceremony.  While addressing the award ceremony, The Federal Minister of State Sheikh Aftab Ahmad has lauded the performance of NH&MP while addressing the 15th annual award ceremony of motorway police in President’s Secretariat Auditorium Islamabad today and said that Motorway Police had become a symbol of pride for our Nation.

The officers of NH&MP have been able to demonstrate unprecedented hard work and devotion to the department’s core values of Integrity, Courtesy, Help and Rule of Law. He said the selfless service to the citizens of Pakistan has made all of us very proud. He lauded the role of NH&MP in imparting road safety education and awareness to the common road users, with an aim to reduce number of accidents. The minister believed that peace and security to general people would be provided under the present leadership of the country. He assured that the Government would leave no stone unturned while making efforts to achieve the goal of peace, tranquility and Rule of Law for the citizens of Pakistan and to make country peaceful and prosperous.

The Inspector General, National Highways & Motorway Police, Zulfiqar Ahmad Cheema said in his address during the 15^th Annual Awards Ceremony of NH&MP at President’s Secretariat Islamabad today that the exceptional performance of the National Highways and Motorway Police was a result of officers integrity, courtesy and enthusiastic help to travelers in distress. He shared with glad that at an average, the NH&MP officers are helping more than 5000 motorists and road users every day.

He said that the rate of occurrence of accidents on roads has dropped by more than 60%.  NH&MP had re-united dozens of lost children with their parents, he added. He said that different methods like lectures at educational institutions, factories and bus stands, Radio/TV programs, workshops, walks, rallies and seminars on road safety in many cities of Pakistan have been adopted to impart traffic education to road users.

He said that these initiatives are helping in reducing the accident rate and citizens are observing road discipline, wearing seat belt and improving in lane discipline.The International organizations have declared NH&MP as corruption free and role model for government institutions.

The IG NH&MP Zulfiqar Ahmad Cheema said that the good image of motorway police is our valuable asset and it should be protected at all costs.  He said that the performance of the department has improved and patrolling is carried out very efficiently.  Equal application of Law is ensured and many VVIP’s have been fined. He said that CCTV cameras and LEDs have been installed at the toll plazas. While pointing out the difficulties, the IGP said that force is in trouble, as patrolling vehicles have become useless which need to replace urgently.

Jurisdiction of the department has been increased but the strength of staff is the same, he added.  He said the salaries of provincial police set up have increased but the salaries of NH&MP have not increased so far.  He said that people are demanding presence of NH&MP at other highways but it is not possible due to shortage of staff strength.  At the end of the ceremony, President Islamic Republic of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain distributed awards among the best performance holders.

IG, NH&MP Zulfiqar Ahmad Cheema presented shield to the President Islamic Republic of Pakistan Mamnoon Hussain and thanked all the guests who attend the ceremony.