The need for strong presence of police highway patrol units along the Highlands Highway was raised during yesterday’s parliament session in Port Moresby city, which the prime minister paid particular attention to especially with the large amount of funding spent towards infrastructures there.

Prime Minister James Marape directed stronger police highway patrols and warned that the Government will take tougher action against criminals terrorising motorists and communities along the Highlands Highway, where approximately K5 billion has been invested in major road and electricity infrastructure.

Speaking in response to a question concerning highway security from Goroka MP Aiye Tambua, Prime Minister Marape described the Highlands Highway as Papua New Guinea’s most important economic artery, supporting approximately 60 percent of the country’s population and economic activity.

“The Highlands Highway is a very important highway. Sixty (60) percent of the economy and 60 percent of the population is supported by the Highlands Highway,” Prime Minister Marape said. 

“It is a major economic lifeline. It is the economic artery of our country that feeds close to six (6) million people.”

The Prime Minister said the Government had invested approximately K3 billion in road infrastructure and a further K1.9 billion in electricity transmission infrastructure along the Lae–Mount Hagen corridor of the national highway.

He said these investments represented an unprecedented opportunity for communities along the highway to participate in economic development rather than engage in criminal activities that threatened the safety of road users and undermined national investment.