ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan, emphasizing zero-tolerance for overloading, directed the Ministry of Communications to enforce a strict mechanism to ensure adherence to axle load limits.
The Minister chaired a meeting regarding implementation of Axle Load Management at the Ministry of Communications on Thursday.
During the meeting, the minister received a detailed briefing on the enforcement of axle load regulations nationwide.
The IG of National Highways & Motorway Police (NHMP) briefed the minister that axle load management on Motorways is comparatively satisfactory but requires further reinforcement across national highways. Detailed assessments regarding infrastructure damage caused by vehicle overloading were also presented.
Abdul Aleem Khan directed that strict mechanisms be enforced to ensure axle load limits are strictly adhered to as vehicles exit Karachi Port so that the issue is nipped in the bud.
He instructed the National Highway and Motorway Police, Traffic Police and the National Highway Authority (NHA) to maintain round-the-clock vigilance at all the weigh stations.
To ensure strict compliance, he directed the establishment of a transparent and comprehensive accountability system to monitor weigh stations and eliminate enforcement loopholes. The minister stressed that heavy financial penalties must be imposed on violators to remove any economic incentive for truck owners to exceed permissible loads.
Furthermore, Abdul Aleem Khan emphasized the need for a joint strategy with provincial transport departments to address enforcement challenges across provincial boundaries, alongside the immediate rectification of existing statutory gaps within the legal framework.
To streamline these execution plans, a dedicated working group will be established under the chairmanship of the Secretary for Communications.
The meeting was attended by the Secretary of Communications, Ali Sher Mahsood, the DG of Frontier Works Organisation (FWO), Major General Abdul Sami, the DG of the National Logistics Cell (NLC) Major General Rao Farrukh, the Chairman of NHA, Captain Asadullah Khan (Retd), and the IG of NHMP, Sultan Ahmad Chaudhry. Representatives from provincial transport departments and key industry stakeholders were also present and submitted their policy recommendations during the session.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026