National Highways & Motorway Police has announced an important public safety ordinance whereby it has made functional fire extinguishers obligatory in all vehicles using national transit networks. The new directive, which NHMP has just issued, will see the implementation of the motorway police fire extinguisher ban, effective June 24, 2026. According to this regulation, no vehicle without a functional fire suppression system will be allowed to enter the motorways or national highways in Pakistan.
This policy is directly aimed at high occupancy public service vehicles (PSVs) and heavy goods carriers although the mandatory aspect applies to all categories of automobiles. This structural intervention was meant by the NHMP to prevent automobile fires, save infrastructural damage, and limit commercial cargo damage resulting from highway traffic accidents.
Fire Safety Campaign and Inspections Regulations
As part of efforts to help transit through this period seamlessly, the NHMP has undertaken a national campaign aimed at sensitizing drivers, transport union members, and logistics companies on appropriate fire extinguishing standards. The campaign will run until June 24.
An NHMP official made it clear that just having an extinguisher will not be enough to save drivers from getting penalized. The following inspections will be carried out with great strictness using technical guidelines:
- Pressure Check: This will be done by checking the pressure gauge fitted on the unit to ensure that it is working properly.
- Expiry Check: Any chemicals or cylinders that have already expired or are broken physically will not be tolerated.
- Readiness Test: Drivers need to keep the equipment accessible inside the car and not hide it under the luggage.
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Immediate Bans on Non-Conformity Public Service Vehicles and Freight Vehicles
Message of Caution: “A strict enforcement measure shall be implemented on the banning of vehicles found to be running without fire extinguishers once the awareness campaign ends on June 24,” according to the spokesperson for the NHMP. “Public service vehicles and freight vehicles that do not have functioning fire extinguishers will be denied access to motorways and national highways.”
It was advised that fleet managers and families should check on the safety equipment in their vehicles right away. Compliance with these safety regulations will ensure that there will be no delay in transportation at toll plazas, and more importantly, lives will be saved from unnecessary accidents.
National Highways’ Strategic Digitization Program
The drive towards ensuring greater safety is part of a wider program geared towards the digitization of the highway structure. This is evidenced by Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan’s recent directive to transit authorities to implement ITS on all primary roads.
As part of the process of upgrading, the ministry has decided to make a switch from using the conventional toll plazas to cashless electronic toll systems in major toll plazas. Combining these stringent security procedures such as banning the use of motorway police fire extinguishers with modern technology will make the NHMP very effective.
Nayab Fatima is a university graduate and an emerging media professional with a strong passion for journalism, research, and independent reporting. She specializes in developing well-researched, fact-based, and analytical news stories covering a wide range of sectors, with particular expertise in technology, telecommunications, aviation, and the automobile industry.
