IN THIS POST:
– About National Highways & Motorway Police
– Role of National Highways & Motorway Police
– Road Safety Awareness by NH&MP
– Services Offered by the Authority
– Procedure for Complaints and Feedback
The National Highways & Motorway Police (NH&MP) is an authority that ensures the implementation of road safety rules across all the motorways and highways in Pakistan to make these high-speed roads safer for all commuters. Let’s discuss the role of National Highways & Motorway Police and the services they offer to the general public. But first, let’s get an overview of what this law enforcement agency is all about and its history.
About National Highways & Motorway Police
Pakistan’s network of motorways and highways connects the country’s southernmost regions of Gwadar and Karachi with those in the north, including the capital city of Islamabad and the densely populated Lahore, all the way up to Gilgit-Baltistan, where few people dare to venture out on the hilly roads in their private vehicles.
The National Highways & Motorway Police is a law enforcement agency and authority that patrols these roads using their fleet of SUVs, heavy motorbikes, and cars to make these routes safer for all drivers and commuters. Along with effectively enforcing road safety rules, the authority also offers roadside assistance courteously and professionally to people facing troubles with their vehicles or stranded on the motorway.
Having its headquarters (HQ) in Islamabad, the agency is led by the current Inspector General of the Police (IGP), along with his Deputy Inspector Generals (DIGs), each of which is in charge of a different zone.
History of National Highways & Motorway Police
Reforms brought about in 1997 changed the history of policing in Pakistan forever by bringing forth a new and efficient task force that trained existing police personnel before enlisting them with the NH&MP. Initially, this law enforcement agency was known as Pakistan Motorways Police and was only responsible for patrolling the country’s motorways, like the M-2.
Seeing its success, the government expanded the authority’s jurisdiction to all the national highways, starting with the N-5, and handing over control to the authority in phases. This was when the named was officially changed to National Highways & Motorway Police in 2001.
Motorways Patrolled by the National Highways & Motorway Police
The National Highways & Motorway Police has divided the freeways and highways in Pakistan into three regions, each having its own expressways and toll plazas. We’re listing down the roads currently being patrolled by the NH&MP with regards to each region:
North Region
The routes in the North Region include:
- M-1 (Peshawar to Islamabad)
- M-2 (Islamabad to Lahore)
- E-35 (Also called Hazara Motorway – Burhan to Mansehra)
- N-5 (Peshawar to Lahore)
- N-75 (Also called Murree Road)
Central and HQs Region
The routes in this part of the country include:
- M-3 (Lahore to Abdul Hakeem)
- M-4 (Pindi Bhattian to Faisalabad to Multan)
- M-5 (Multan to Sukkur)
- N-5 (Lahore to Sadiqabad)
South Region
The highways in the south region include:
- N-5 (Sadiqabad to Karachi)
- N-55 (Also called Indus Highway – Jamshoro to Sehwan to Ratodero)
- Lyari Expressway
- N-25 (Hub to Uthal, Kalat, to Quetta)
- N-10 (Also called Makran Coastal Highway – Gwadar to Makola)
Role of the National Highways & Motorway Police
As a federal law enforcement agency, the duties of the NH&MP encompass:
- Regulating traffic on all the highways and motorways under their jurisdiction
- Enforcing traffic rules on these routes
- Helping commuters in distress
- Educating the masses on road safety rules and procedures
- Coordinating with the National Highway Authority (NHA) for road repairs
- Providing quality training to drivers all around the country
- Issuing an international-standard driving licence to successful candidates
How Does the NH&MP Create Awareness About Road Safety?
Along with offering online guides for both practical and theoretical driving tests, the National Highways & Motorway Police also provides infographics, videos, driving tips, as well as detailed overviews of traffic rules and traffic signs that dot the motorways and highways in Pakistan. Educating people about road safety also means giving them complete and up-to-date information about all the traffic tickets, fines, and penalties applicable to individuals found breaking the law and putting their own as well as others’ lives at risk.
Services Offered by the National Highways & Motorway Police
The core services offered by the NH&MP are:
- Licencing
- Live radio updates
- Travel advisory
Let’s discuss these services offered by the National Highways & Motorway Police in detail.
Licencing
Licencing services of the National Highways & Motorway Police comprise of:
Self-Assessment
Think you’re all set to attempt your driving test? The Drivers’ Licencing Authority (DLA) under the NH&MP allows you to perform a self-assessment online to determine whether you are ready to attempt the exam. You can conduct the assessment in English or Urdu with 20 questions, 10 of which focus on road signs, and the remaining 10 are related to traffic rules.
Test Reservation
Enter your name, CNIC, cell phone number, an alternate contact number, and an email address along with your chosen date in the given form to reserve your seat for a driving licence test.
Driving Licence Verification and Tracking
The DLA also provides convenient driving licence verification services as well as an online driving licence tracking system, where you can get the required information by simply adding the CNIC of the concerned individual.
Live Radio Updates
The NH&MP offers live traffic updates on the radio channel FM95 that you can tune in to during your drive to stay up-to-date on the traffic situation, including any traffic jams, accidents, and urgent weather conditions.
Travel Advisory
Travel advisory information on the NH&MP website covers roadblocks, road works, weather updates, and diversions on all of the routes patrolled by the authority. We’d advise you to check the latest updates before heading off to a long road trip so that you don’t get caught in bad weather or traffic congestions.
The National Highways & Motorway Police also has an Android and iOS app called NHMP Hamsafar, which offers travel advisory and complaint registration features. The app also has a live radio feature, route maps, and the facility to call for help if you face car trouble and get stuck on the highway somewhere and need immediate assistance.
How to Contact the NH&MP for Complaints and Feedback?
The National Highways & Motorway Police headquarters is located in Mauve Area, G-11/1, Islamabad. But in case of emergencies, the NH&MP helpline number is 130. Meanwhile, you can call the DLA at 051-9250519 between 9 am to 5 pm on working days. You can also register your complaints with the National Highways & Motorway Police at 051-9320290 during the same working hours, as mentioned previously.
Now you know all about the National Highways & Motorway Police as well as their roles and services. Read more about similar government authorities like the National Highway Authority, the Pakistan Citizen Portal, DIRBS by PTA, and others on Zameen Blog. You can also send us your comments on our posts at blog@zameen.com.
*[Cover Image Credits: Facebook/Islamabad,The Capital Of Pakistan]
