PESHAWAR: The Traffic department has chalked out a climate resilient strategy for improving the performance of its officials during sizzling heat and extreme weather conditions.

‘While realizing impacts of heat wave along with alarming air and noise pollution due to increasing traffic, the department has chalked out a plan for safety and ease of its officials,’ said Chief Traffic Police Officer Peshawar, Saood Khan.

Speaking with media men at ‘Meet the Press’ program of Peshawar Press Club here on Monday, Chief Traffic Police said a new heat absorbing uniform has been proposed for traffic Police.

Chairman Peshawar Press Club, Arshad Aziz Malik and General Secretary, Irfan Mosazai along with other members of the club were present on the occasion.

The new uniform will be made up of material that will absorb sizzling heat and protect the officials from sever effects of heat wave, Chief Traffic Police told newsmen.

The proposal has been forwarded to high-ups and approval is awaited after which the procuremen
t process will be started at the earliest, he added.

Similarly, a rotation policy has also been proposed to change officials from performing duty at hard points where traffic is mostly choked, causing air and noise pollution.

Duties of officials will be changed on fortnight basis, especially from areas where health hazards were much more, he continued.

The Traffic department will also make arrangements for provision of refreshments including cold water and beverages to officials performing duties during peak hour of heat.

Traffic vans will provide cold water and drinks in different parts of the city to colleagues standing under sun to regulate the traffic, he added.

He said there are around 1867 staffers in traffic department working in regulation of traffic in Peshawar metropolis where around 500,000 vehicles enter and exist on daily basis.

In response to a question, Saood Khan informed that smoke emitting vehicles are stopped and penalized in accordance with official rates of challans.

About entry of
non-registered vehicles in Peshawar, he said meeting in this regard was held at Commissioner’s Office and measures were under way for implementation of the decisions.

He dispelled the impression that traffic police is assigned with the task of generating revenue through excessive challans.