PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan on Monday ordered the completion of homework for setting up KP Urban Mobility Authority (KPUMA) within a month.

The KP Mass Transit Act, 2016, provides for the establishment of the KPUMA, which will have jurisdiction over public transport vehicles, route permits within specific area, development of transport policies and preparation of plans for a period up to five years, and ensuring safe and clean mass transit besides other tasks.

The decision was made during a meeting regarding the establishment of the KPUMA and other traffic related issues of the provincial capital.

Says KPUMA will ensure modern traffic system

The chief minister chaired the meeting.

Earlier, the relevant officials informed Mr Mahmood about the transport and licensing policy of the KPUMA, recruitment of managing director and other relevant staff members. The chief minister was also briefed about amendments to the KPUMA Act, 2018.

Mr Mahmood also ordered the formation of a committee to examine the matter of the proposed authority under the supervision of the transport department and formulate comprehensive traffic plan for the purpose.

The committee will be headed by the finance secretary and will comprise the secretaries of transport and local government departments and DIG of traffic police Dr Akhtar Ali Shah as members.

The chief minister asked the committee to finalise all necessary arrangements for completing the homework for setting up the KPUMA within a month.

He directed the relevant officials to expedite implementation of the decisions, including recruitment of staff, and meeting of targets.

Mr Mahmood said the hiring of a qualified managing director from the market would be a step towards corporate governance and would ensure that the institutions perform in a free and independent environment.

He said all such appointments should be made on contractual basis so that the employees’ performance could be gauged from every aspect and that talented people could be inducted in the authority.

The chief minister said the Bus Rapid Transit project would emerge as the first modern and disciplined public transport system in KP.

He said the government was going to streamline the transport industry along scientific lines in the province and thus, providing the locals with the maximum jobs and the latest transport facilities in the capital city.

Mr Mahmood underlined the need for completing homework for all needs and requirements for establishment of the KPUMA.

He said all details and progress in that respect would be produced at the relevant forum as soon as possible.

The chief minister asked the officials concerned to ensure all recruitments in KPUMA on merit.

He said the government would spare no efforts to complete the BRT project in the earliest and thus, helping overcome traffic problems in Peshawar city.

Mr Mahmood said the establishment of the KPUMA would introduce a modern and disciplined traffic system in the province.

He said the government would try its level best to resolve all problems of Peshawar city on priority basis.

Published in Dawn, January 8th, 2019