Significantly Important Leftover Issues from Working Paper of TSDI
By: Arjuman A. Sheikh 

Significantly important leftover  issues from the Working Paper, were not only required to be brought to focus but are also proposed to be reflected in the Policy document with particular reference to Planning designing, Implementation, & Law enforcement point of view. In the context of present Global trend towards Privatization and de-regulation, bulk of implementation for different modes of Transport will have to be under-taken by the Private sector.
 
There are no two opinions that, The Principal aim of National Integration Transport Policy is to provide a framework for building a modern, integrated Transport system meeting the commercial needs of Pakistan, enabling the Nation to accept new Millennium's challenges successfully. While reviewing the existing Transport Sector policy, important issues hindering the cohesive development of the sector, have been identified in the appended contribution, Conceiving the role of Transport Policy in the context of Integrated Development approach in encompassing areas like Strengthening of coordination with the concerned agencies, Patronizing Professionalism etc. which had been taken into consideration while proposing the appended comments. The necessity of Deregulation/Restructuring & Private sector participation, which assumes an important role in investment, has also been reflected in the Working Paper with a view to harness the full potential. The important facts of Transport Sectors, which inadvertently had been missed from, the circulated papers, if considered for its inclusion into Strategic Document would add a new dimension. Not only that, We are confident that this contribution would assist World Bank in focusing Vision 2003 as well. Needless to emphasize that constituting a balanced National Coordination Working Party (NCWP) at this stage to monitor the phase-wise Programme, Planning, implementation and periodic review of Transport Policy would go a long way in achievement targeted goals.
 

Rural Roads Infrastructure

Objectives of increasing Road Network Density from 0.18 Km /Sq. Km of the area compared to 0.5 Km/ Sq. Km. which has been considered a bare minimum for sustaining Economic Development of a country. We therefore need to take under mentioned measures while documenting the Transport Policy with respect to Rural Road infrastructure.

1. In combating deficiency with respect to Rural/Farm-to- Market Roads
2. Prescribing & setting Quality Standards for new construction & Maintenance
3. Formulation of Laws & strict enforcement encroachments (Urban & Inter city Roads)
4. Road Passenger Transport in place of abolished Road Transport Corporation (RTC) by Provincial Governments
5. Activation of Urban Transport System embedding the salient features as:

• Maximizing the use of existing Road space
• Activation of Mass Transit System National Mass Transit Authority
• Ensuring service Quality by Qualified consultant
• Most secure, safe & free from harmful effects of Pollution
• Development of Transport Information Management System for monitoring
• Incentives to Local Industry for manufacture of low cost, High capacity buses for Urban Areas

 Policy Guidelines on Roads & Road Transport

Development of Urban Transport Master plan with proposed parameters as:

1. Cities with population of 0.1 M to have an Urban Transport System
2. Metropolitan with population of 1 M to have Mass Transit System
3. Metropolitan with population of 5 or over 5 M to have Bus System complemented by light Rail/Bus ways
4. Inter city Bus terminates in cities of over 1 M population
5. Plan to open 96000 kms of Canal Roads to Public
6. Priority to construct all villages/form-to-Market-roads (NTRC)
7. Transport Management Information system

• Investment & Operation by Private Sector
• Strict enforcement of laws relating to Traffic
  

8. Management Motor Vehicles, Road Safety, Accidents
9. Planning & Designing of Road Network & land use

• Road Maintenance by Private Sector (Phased)
• Standardized Traffic Plans with respect to Residential, Industrial, Commercial Areas etc
• Inbuilt Drainage Provisions
• Inbuilt Safety fences & barriers provisions
• Ensuring adequate visibility at inter sections
• Standardization of Vehicles operations
• Environmental study & Review

Road Safety

• Education/ awareness/ campaign (Schools Syllabus)
• Facility of Instructor Training Schools (Drivers, Staff)
• Revision of Road Safety act 1979
• Revision of Traffic regulation Laws
• Enforcement of Roads & Highway ordinance
• No encroachments at all
• Controlled parking
• Adequate visibility at Inter sections
• Provision of safety fences & barriers
• Improvement of Inter agency coordination

Policy Guidelines for Railway 

1. Restructuring of Raiways to facilitate Privatization
2. Private Sector participation in core operation
3. Review of Railway act 1890
4. Surplus Labour & its Utilization Programme
5. Maintenance of Services, Workshop/factories in Private Sector
6. Activation of a Railway Regulatory Authority
7. Commercial attitude to recapture freight & Traffic
8. Measures to reduce losses by initiating:

• Branch lines Tickets, station cleanness, coaches
• Improve passenger services (fast A/C trains) improve entertainment & communication facility
• WAN for reservation sub-system
• Professionalism on Competence Performance/Excellence (Engineering Transport, Traffic & Commercial)
• Operation of Track/ Signaling/ Communication sub-system
  

Restructuring of Railways

• Reorganization PR to facilitate Privatization Process
• Railway Regulatory Authority (RPA)
• Short term stabilization Measures
• Plan to recapture freight share
• Surplus labour & Plans & utilization Programme
• Competitiveness in Access Policy to encourage Private participation & counsultancy services
   - Replace Railway assets with Private investment
• Review Railway Act 1890.

Futuristic Ports Vision

1. Completion of Development Programme of KPT & PQA
2. Targeted Development of third port
3. Decisions on of Port services Privatization (Oct. 97)
4. Plan Port based Industry for Port Qasim to promote export potential
5. Plan Private investment to develop Port infrastructure
6. Relaxation of Duties/Taxes on Equipment. used for Ports
7. Private participation & consultancy
8. Legal Framework

Modernization of Shipping Infrastructure

1. Shipping be declared as an Industry
2. Relaxation of Duties/ Taxes on Ships registered in Pakistan
3. Conduction of Standardized Maritime Training for Merchant Marine officers & seamen
4. Pakistan Marine Academy facility optimization
5. Private participation & consultancy
6. Ship building Expansion & with private sector
7. Priority to Pakistan flag vessels over foreign flag to Transport Public sector cargo
8. No restrictions (Type, age, size, class of vessels etc.) on purchase/sale/Registration under Pakistan Flag
9. Amendment in Merchant shipping Act matching decisions of International Conventions

Aviation

1. Aviation be declared as an industry
2. No discrimination Bet Pakistani & foreign registered carrier
3. New Private Airlines
4. Aircraft charge (navigation, landing) be rationalized
5. Airports to have Cargo handling facility
6. Airport maintenance to Private Sector
7. Relaxation of Duties on Aircrafts spares, Handling Equipment, Radio, Landing aids, Lighting, MET Equipment

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