ISLAMABAD: Road safety is a shared societal responsibility, and everyone must have to play due role in order to reduce the toll of traffic accidents. This was stated by Additional IG Motorway & National Highway Abbas Malik, while addressing the inauguration ceremony of the Road Safety Council of Pakistan, as Chief Guest here on Tuesday. On the occasion, Chairman RSCP Engineer Irfan Baloch, Road Safety Expert Mohammad Shahid, senior officials from Motorway Police, Islamabad Traffic Police officers and other civil society representatives were also present.

Abbas Malik, lauding the initiative of establishing Road Safety Council,  said: “Many road accidents could be prevented if we are alert and practice safe and courteous road use.” The Additional IG was of the view that being a good citizen, everyone must demonstrate strong commitment in road safety by ensuring safe driving, safer roads and safest vehicles.

Engineer Irfan Baloch, Chairman RSCP, in his welcoming remarks, briefed about the aims and objectives of the organization. “Our main objective is to reduce the traffic crashes and injuries by generating awareness about road safety and build a sense of responsibility in people,” he said. “We want to save precious lives through prevention of road traffic accidents, and we strongly believe that all road crashes are preventable,” the Chairman emphasized.

 “The Road Safety Council of Pakistan aims to help the road traffic accident victims by providing financial assistance for treatment through donations from our donors and also arrange blood if required, from our blood donor network and blood donor organizations,” Engineer Irfan Baloch expressed, adding that the Council also provides free-of-cost training courses and first-aid kits in order to save precious lives.

“We are committed to serve the noble cause in collaboration with the Ministry of Communication and government departments, National Highways Authority, National Highways and Motorway police, Islamabad Traffic police , Rescue 1122, transport associations, educational bodies, civil society and stakeholders,” Engineer Baloch said.

On the occasion, separate awareness sessions on road safety were also conducted by the National Highway & Motorway Police and the Islamabad Traffic Police. Road Safety Expert Mohammad Shahid, talking to the media, stated that road safety is considered a major public health issue in Pakistan. According to him, it is estimated that every five minutes someone is killed or badly injured in a traffic accident in Pakistan.