KOHAT: Authorities on Friday voiced concern over the slow pace of work on the Indus Highway and a lack of coordination among relevant quarters and called for speedy work without any compromise on construction quality.
A meeting attended by the commissioners and deputyinspectorsgeneralof police from Peshawar, Kohat, Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan divisions along with deputy commissioners, district police officers, National Highway Authority officials and project consultants reviewed progress on the key highway.The district administrations, police, minerals, forests and industries departments were also directed to adopt a joint strategy, respond swiftly to reports of illegal mining and take indiscriminate legal action against culprits.
The NHA officials briefed the meeting on ongoing construction, progress and traffic management.
The attendants also demanded strict enforcement of law against overloaded vehicles, which, they said, were damaging important highways constructed with billions of rupees and emphasised better coordination among police, district administration and the NHA.
Chairing the meeting, Kohat commis-sioner Motasim Billah Shah ordered authorities to strengthen traffic and load management system.
He said the Indus Highway was an important commercial and travel route and therefore, authorities should ensure smooth traffic flow and public safety during construction.
In a separate meeting, commissioner Shah reviewed the situation of illegal gold mining in the division and said action against culprits should be intensified.
He said mineral resources were national and provincial assets whose illegal extraction not only deprived the government of revenue but also harmed the environment.