ISLAMABAD, Jan 14: Federal Minister for Communication Dr Arbab Alamgir Khan on Wednesday ordered construction of trauma and guidance centres at each service area on the motorways.

The minister passed on the instructions to the National Highway Authority (NHA) in a briefing session on facilities provided on the motorways.

NHA Chairman Chaudhry Altaf Ahmed informed the minister that there were 10 functional service areas on M-2 (Islamabad-Lahore) and two on M-3 (Pindi Bhattian-Faisalabad). Five service areas have been planned on M-1 (Islamabad-Peshawar), Mr Ahmed said, adding that two of these were close to completion near Fatehjang and Rashakai interchanges.

According to the NHA chairman, these service areas were being constructed on Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis.

The communication minister directed the authority to construct a park and a fishing deck on the banks of Indus River on the M-1 in order to offer an attractive recreational spot to the public. “More picnic points will also be introduced on the motorways to promote the tourism,” Mr Khan said.

He also ordered the development of a park-cum-play land on the 40km Islamabad-Murree Expressway. All these parks and service areas will be built on BOT basis, he said.

Mr Khan called for improving conditions at motorway service areas, stressing that food items sold there must meet quality standards and market prices.

The NHA chairman assured Mr Khan that advertisements for these projects would be published in newspapers within a week.

Meanwhile, the minister said the year 2009 would be observed on the theme of “Greener Pakistan” and in this regard, maximum number of trees must be planted along highways and motorways.

Briefing the minister about the NHA, Mr Ahmed said at present the authority was maintaining 12,000 kilometres of road network, adding that trees would be planted along these roads.

“Government, semi-government, multinationals and NGOs will be invited to join the sacred cause of tree plantation. Every company/department will be allotted a 10-20km stretch for tree plantation,” he said.

Mr Ahmed said Rs111 million were spent on trees planted along the M-2. But the minister critically responded by saying that now not even 50 per cent of the trees were present.

Mr Khan called for proper numbering of trees, and emphasised that cases must be lodged in case of any theft.

The minister directed the NHA that all future contracts of road construction must include plantation of trees by the contractors as a binding condition.