Lahore, A recent surge in driving licensing rates, coupled with substantial expansions in driving schools and licensing facilities, has put Punjab’s traffic management into the spotlight. The pronounced growth has been attributed to concerted efforts across the board, with specific district traffic officers being acknowledged for their contributions.
According to a news release by the Punjab Police, Inspector General Police Punjab Dr. Usman Anwar convened a video link meeting with chief traffic officers from across the province to discuss these developments. Participating officers included CTO Lahore Mustansar Feroze and CTO Gujranwala Ayesha Butt, among others.
During the meeting, it was announced that district traffic officers who contributed to a remarkable increase in driving licensing rates of over 600% would receive letters of appreciation. The Traffic Police Jhang was spotlighted for a standout achievement, registering an 800% increase this month and consequently earning the top position among all districts.
A summary of advancements highlighted that, between July and October, the province has seen the establishment of 51 new driving schools, 126 testing centers, and 75 licensing counters. New driving centers have also been introduced in locales such as Police Centre Liberty, Garden Town, Gujranwala, Murree, Sheikhupura, and Shahkot.
Dr. Usman Anwar provided further insights, revealing that 38,259 citizens, inclusive of 13,255 women, availed services at these police driving schools. Notably, female citizens were trained by female traffic instructors. Additionally, 564 Wardens were promoted to Senior Traffic Wardens, and 83 Junior Wardens ascended to Warden positions. IG Punjab also announced that educational lectures from senior police officers concerning driving training will soon be accessible on the Punjab Police’s website. Emphasizing the significance of road safety, Dr. Anwar mandated an acceleration of the traffic awareness campaign under their outreach program. He also remarked on the Punjab Police’s initiative to broaden the horizons of Driving Licensing Centers and Training Schools, incorporating the Patrolling force to serve an even larger segment of the citizenry.
SSP Traffic Riffat Bukhari shed light on further achievements, mentioning that driving licenses have been issued to 166 transgenders post-training, and a decline in road accidents, attributed to effective countermeasures implemented under the accident management system.