LAHORE: The service rules of traffic wardens have been established to ensure their timely promotion, said Punjab Inspector General of Police Captain (retd) Arif Nawaz Khan.
He was addressing the darbar of traffic wardens from different districts at Qila Gujjar Singh Police Lines in Lahore on Tuesday.
The IGP said that steps were being taken to bring the salaries of wardens on a par with personnel of other departments. Also, a summary for the restoration of risk allowance had also been sent to the provincial government. Upon sanctioning of the summary, risk allowance would be added to the salaries of the wardens, he added.
Khan said traffic police wardens should play the role of frontline soldiers with their professional skills and bring positive change in their behaviour to win the hearts of the public.
Discussing the performance of Lahore traffic police in 2017, CTO Rai Ejaz said that during the campaign against juvenile drivers, traffic police challaned 53,000 juvenile drivers who were acquitted after written guarantees from their parents. Furthermore, 1.8 million violators of law on roads were issued challan tickets and more than 1,500 sit-ins were looked over during the last one year.
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At the darbar, various ranks of traffic police officers also discussed their problems with the IGP, who directed officials to solve their issues. “To encourage traffic wardens, a prize distribution system should be started on a monthly basis and 10 personnel, deployed for various duties, should be given awards and appreciation certificates,” he suggested.
The IGP said that an environment of competition among wardens may encourage them to perform with great zeal. He added traffic management was a difficult task in a city like Lahore, but the personnel performed diligently by putting their own problems aside.
He said steps were being taken for the replacement of old vehicles, provision of new wireless sets, renovation of offices, proper education to children of traffic personnel and provision of medical facilities to families of wardens.
Apart from this, new day care centres and facilities to female wardens were also in the process. He added promotions of many wardens had not been sanctioned due to incomplete ACRs. He added officials with incomplete ACRs would have their promotions stopped.
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He directed officials to launch a movement and create awareness over traffic rules in the print and electronic media. The addition of traffic-related subjects in school syllabi was also under the observation of the Punjab Textbook Board, the IGP added. CCPO Lahore Captain (Retd) Muhammad Amin Wains said that even with the shortage of resources, traffic police personnel would leave no stone unturned in the performance of their duties.
CTO Lahore Rai Muhammad Ejaz, PSO to IG Punjab Sajjad Hassan Khan Manj, SP Headquarters Atif Nazeer and other officers of traffic police and wardens were also present on the occasion.
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(The Express Tribune)