Traffic Warden System launched in Rawalpindi

[Naveed Yaseen]

RAWALPINDI: The Traffic Warden System (TWS) was formally launched here on Saturday.

In a ceremony at Police Lines, 985 traffic wardens, including 33 women, formally assumed charge of their duties in Rawalpindi city and Murree. As many as 320 more wardens will be deployed in the city after completion of their training.

City Police Officer (CPO) Rao Muhammad Iqbal was the chief gust on this occasion. Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Dr Usman Anwar, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operation Yasin Farooq, Senior Traffic Police Officer Malik Matlob, SP Headquarters Syed Abbas Shah and others were also present. A large number of transporters and citizens also attended the ceremony.

Addressing the ceremony, Iqbal said TWS would certainly improve traffic flow and bring a change in police culture. He appreciated the Punjab Government steps to launch TWS in five big cities including Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Gujranwala and Rawalpindi.

He said TWS would introduce traffic sense among road users and provide wardens an opportunity to prove their skills. He said wardens would be provided accommodation facilities soon.

The CPO said city traffic police performed about 389 VVIP duties annually. He acknowledged efforts of old traffic police to maintain traffic flow in the city.

He also directed the CTO to make best use of limited resources and install Global Positioning System in their patrolling vehicles to solve traffic problems. He said a committee, comprising representatives of general public, transporters and media, would be constituted to bring a positive change in traffic system.

He said the driving licence system should be centralised to develop a database available on Internet. He said wardens would be provided opportunities of refresher courses to control the street crime.

He said the wardens were trained at Police College, Sihala and Elite College, Lahore, to perform their duties in a better way. Iqbal said unavailability of parking lots at commercial centres was creating traffic problems.

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp...008_pg11_7