1.

Focus Group Discussions Director Transport & Mass Transit

The focus group discussion session with Director Transport & Mass Transit
started with, about the replacement of existing old fashioned vehicles with
new AC coasters. The Director Transport & Mass Transit stated that The
department has started to launch new AC coasters. Initially the department
will launch 50 coasters, then 200 more are in the pipeline. Regarding the
concern about the livelihood of existing Wagons and Mazda owners, the
authority was on the opinion that New coasters are launched very few in
numbers and will be increased gradually. In the meantime, owners of
existing transport facility are welcomed if they refurbish their vehicles. The
department will pay the price of this task. Further, these new coasters will be
distributed among all the transport facility owners so that they can sustain
themselves in the society.
On the question about the response of people regarding this new transport
facility, the Director Transport & Mass Transit mentioned Although fare of
theses coasters is more than existing transport facility but it is still
welcomed by public with a great deal. As it is Air Conditioned and provides
comfortable ride. Apprehension about the refurbished vehicles started their
operation on road or not, the authority responded that Currently almost 12
vehicles are refurbished and they are operating on road now. The cost of
each vehicle refurbishment is about 0.3 million

About the congestion on road, the Director Transport & Mass Transit was of
the opinion that There is a flood of private vehicles operating on road. This
can be minimized with public transport inclusion. Furthermore the service
provided by public transport should be economical, reliable, comfortable and
accessible. In the context of congestion reducing strategies like to
discourage the use of private vehicles by imposing high parking fees,
congestion charges and strict driving license issuance process. The Director
Transport & Mass Transit argued that For these restrictions to be
implemented, there are a bulk of hurdles which are in the form of our
administrative failure. Particularly in Peshawar the situation of administration
and legally registered vehicles is worse than any other city in Pakistan,
without the data of registered vehicles it is almost impossible to adopt these
strategies
On the issue of pedestrian precincts in the city of Peshawar, the authority
responded that There is an utmost need of pedestrian precincts in the city
and it should be given high priority. But policy implementation in Pakistan is
a huge dilemma. The rules should be equal for all the class of society, there
should no discrimination. Proper enforcement method should be adopted.
Regarding the question about organizational structure in the transport
department like merge all departments and come up with a single authority
directorate of transport that will have sub directorate. The authority
suggested that It is bit difficult as currently department is planned only for
2 years. So it is easy to start the task with coordination staff such as District

coordinator who can coordinate with all the concerned departments. This
officer will also be from neutral organization and can perform his work in a
successful manner, being field officer too. This person can call meetings
once in a month or as required of all the stakeholders and can identify the
department which is lacking in its responsibilities.
Regarding the parking problem in the city of Peshawar, Director Transport &
Mass Transit gave the reason that The parking places reserved for parking
operations are used for some other purposes. Owner of the buildings does
not want to keep their precious space vacant for purpose of parking only.
Furthermore, in some buildings which have parking space, but these parking
spaces are not designed with respect to the parked vehicles to people
visiting the place ratio.

On the concern about the Planning of Peshawar city, the Director Transport &
Mass Transit mentioned that There is a completely lack of planning in
developing the Peshawar city, even not proper location selected for ring road
and universities. Regarding the question about the cantonment area that if
the proposal of parking plaza is given in cantonment area, is the UPU has the
capacity to implement the proposal at the identified location in that area.
The Director Transport & Mass Transit commented that In the Cantonment

area it is Transport departments responsibility to implement that task and

this department has the capacity to execute work anywhere in Peshawar.
Regarding the strengthening of transport related departments with respect
to staff, especially about technical staff, the Director Transport & Mass Transit
mentioned that This matter is in progress and will be resolved very soon.
But this strengthening is in terms of general cadre only, not for technical
staff.
For the mass transit facility initiation, in the city of Peshawar on the proposed
5 corridors. The Director Transport & Mass Transit stated that Mass transit is
the need of the art at present, the 5 proposed corridors is 20 years plan.
Currently our main focus is on route#02 as major population is present on
this corridor.