Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan has directed the National Highway Authority (NHA) to remove physical barriers from motorways and to enhance the effectiveness of the E-tag system.
Chairing a high-level meeting at the NHA headquarters in Islamabad, the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) president instructed officials to make the electronic toll collection system more efficient and accessible. He was briefed that, in the first phase, an artificial intelligence (AI) system would be introduced on motorways M-1 and M-2.
Aleem Khan stressed that human life is of greater value and called on the motorway police to prioritise safety rather than stopping overspeeding vehicles abruptly. He recommended that traffic violations be communicated to vehicle owners via mobile text messages instead.
The minister also instructed that the private sector be engaged in tree plantation along both sides of the motorways. He directed the NHA to send daily reports to the secretary and the chairman.
The meeting also reviewed the introduction of a uniform commercial policy along both sides of national highways. Aleem Khan stated that revenue collection must be fully digitised, and a suitable NOC fee should be set for commercial land. He proposed creating separate categories based on city and business type.
