ISLAMABAD, Feb 8 (Millat + APP): The ministry of Planning, Development
and Reforms launched a two-year project to formulate the National
Transport Policy which would cover railways, roads, ports and
shipping, aviation, and logistics services.
The project seeks to create a safe, efficient and sustainable
transport system to realize Pakistan’s Vision 2025.
“Pakistan envisages a comprehensive national transport policy
and master plan that will help cut travel time and costs”, an
official in the ministry told APP here Wednesday.
He said the policy would also boost the country’s economic
outlook by positioning Pakistan as a regional hub for trade and
business.
The Government of the United Kingdom, through its Department
for International Development (DFID) and Asian Development Bank
(ADB) are funding this project under its Pakistan Economic Corridors
Programme (PECP).
The National Transport Policy complements co-financing
by DFID and ADB for roads in Balochistan, Khyber Pahtunkhwa and
Punjab, he added.
DFID and ADB are also supporting Sindh and Punjab to develop
more commercially viable public private partnerships so more private
finance is available to meet Pakistan’s infrastructure needs.
He said at the project inception workshop held here the other
day, Joanna Reid, Head of DFID Pakistan, and Werner E. Liepach,
Country Director of the ADB, joined Ahsan Iqbal, Minister of
Planning, Development and Reform, to underscore the importance of an
effective transport policy that will facilitate more local and
regional trade, create jobs and boost economic growth.
This policy, the official added would formulate a holistic
vision and prioritized action plan to upgrade Pakistan’s transport
sector offering long term opportunities for all transport modes.
Improvement of road safety programs, road asset management
systems, scaling up resources for better road design and
maintenance, and supporting multi-modal transport to facilitate
trade within Pakistan and with its neighboring countries, are other
key targets of the initiative, he remarked.