ISLAMABAD: An increase of 25 per cent traffic pressure has been witnessed on Pakistan`s highways over the past five years, but with effective measures and recent policies, road accidents decreased by 50 per cent while the rate of injuries and fatalities reduced by 30pc, Minister for Communications, Privatisation and Investment told a conference on Wednesday.

Speaking at the Fourth Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety, in Marrakech, Aleem Khan said that the government is implementing various road safety and health-related initiatives, urban planning policies and environmental improvement measures in the country.

The communication minister highlighted the development of signal-free corridors in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad and efforts to provide immediate relief through rescue services and air ambulancesin case ofroad accidents.

On the sidelines of the conference, the minister held meetings with ministers from various countries and World Bank officials.-Amin Ahmed