Abdul Aleem Khan orders automated weigh stations, AI-powered cameras and penalties for overloaded vehicles and factories.
Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan has announced strict enforcement of the axle load regime Pakistan, warning that no compromise will be made on overloaded vehicles and factories responsible for exceeding permissible weight limits.
The minister chaired a high-level meeting to review the implementation of the Axle Load Control Regime (ALCR). The meeting was attended by the Federal Secretary for Communications, Chairman National Highway Authority (NHA), Inspector General Motorway Police, and senior officials from the National Logistics Corporation (NLC) and Frontier Works Organization (FWO).
Officials informed the meeting that overloaded freight vehicles are causing significant damage to Pakistan’s road infrastructure. More than 30,000 axle load violations have reportedly been recorded during the last six months, highlighting the need for stronger monitoring and enforcement mechanisms.
The meeting was also informed that a modern weigh station at Sangjani, designed according to international standards, is nearing completion. Abdul Aleem Khan directed authorities to ensure that all freight vehicles pass through weigh stations as part of a fully automated monitoring system.
The federal minister ordered the NHA to remove legal and operational obstacles affecting axle load enforcement. He directed that necessary amendments to the authority’s legal framework be completed within one week to facilitate immediate implementation of the regime.
Khan also instructed authorities to provide transporters with clear guidelines regarding vehicle body construction. He cautioned against installing unnecessary heavy decorative equipment on trucks, noting that such additions can increase vehicle weight and contribute to violations.
Under the new enforcement approach, penalties will not be limited to vehicle owners. Factories found manufacturing or supplying overloaded trucks will also face heavy fines, signaling a broader crackdown on practices contributing to excessive axle loads.
The minister further directed the establishment of weigh stations along GT Roads on the model of motorway facilities. He called for modern cameras and artificial intelligence-based systems to identify and track vehicles violating traffic and axle load regulations.
The NHA, NLC and FWO were also instructed to develop a joint strategy for operations at Karachi Port. Khan emphasized that infrastructure planning should address transportation requirements for the next 20 years rather than focusing only on current needs.
He also announced plans to personally visit 10 motorway locations to assess axle load enforcement and ensure that regulations are being implemented effectively.