Have you ever wondered if the rules truly apply to everyone? In Lahore, the traffic police are answering that question with a resounding “yes,” launching a massive operation against those who’ve repeatedly ignored their e-challans. And this time, there are no exceptions – not even for government vehicles.
The Big Sweep
Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Dr. Athar Waheed is leading this unprecedented crackdown, targeting the top 1,000 vehicles with outstanding fines. To ensure this isn’t just a paper exercise, 12 dedicated recovery teams have been formed. These teams are using the sophisticated Safe City surveillance data to pinpoint and track down defaulter vehicles across the city, collecting fines on the spot.
So far, the results are already making headlines, with over 300 vehicles caught. In one astonishing revelation, a single motorcycle was found to have accumulated a staggering 313 unpaid traffic violations, amounting to a colossal fine of Rs. 335,300. This certainly puts our own occasional parking ticket into perspective!
Govt Vehicles Not Spared
But here’s where the story takes a fascinating turn: Traffic Police has openly stated that numerous vehicles belonging to government departments are also among the worst offenders.
A separate, meticulously compiled list of these official vehicles is now in hand, and action against them is imminent. The traffic department is actively urging all citizens to settle their outstanding fines to avoid further legal consequences, a plea that now clearly extends to public servants as well.
A truly shocking report from the City Traffic Police (CTP) has underscored the scale of this particular problem. It revealed that a staggering 3,896 official vehicles, used by senior government officers across 73 departments, have been caught violating traffic laws in Lahore, many of them on multiple occasions.
The report highlights some of the major departments involved:
- Punjab Police – 496 vehicles
- Services & General Administration Department (S&GAD) – 358 vehicles
- Lahore Electricity Supply Company (LESCO) – 328 vehicles
- WAPDA – 300 vehicles
- Livestock & Dairy Department – 184 vehicles
- PTCL – 181 vehicles
- Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd (SNGPL) – 130 vehicles
- Irrigation Department – 122 vehicles
- Punjab Food Authority (PFA) – 117 vehicles
- Deputy Commissioner’s Office – 107 vehicles
- National Highways Authority – 104 vehicles
- Lahore Cantonment Board – 102 vehicles
- Agriculture Department – 99 vehicles
- Lahore Development Authority (LDA) – 89 vehicles
- Pakistan Railways – 76 vehicles
- Punjab Revenue Authority – 69 vehicles
- Punjab Health Department – 68 vehicles
- Punjab Horticulture Authority – 61 vehicles
- Punjab Home Department – 42 vehicles
- Ring Road Authority – 41 vehicles
- Punjab Board of Revenue – 40 vehicles
- Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission – 37 vehicles
- Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) – 31 vehicles
What’s particularly galling for many citizens is the revelation that officials in charge of these government vehicles have consistently failed to pay the fines. This inaction has prompted the traffic police high-ups to formally write letters, not just to ‘identify the violators and pay fees,’ but also to initiate direct action against them.
This stands in stark contrast to the general public, against whom the traffic police have lodged 4,541 FIRs for traffic violations in Lahore over the last 10 days alone, with many individuals arrested on the spot.
This operation isn’t just about clearing a backlog of fines; it’s a powerful statement about accountability and the equal application of law. The Lahore Traffic Police are sending a clear message: whether you’re a private citizen or a high-ranking official, traffic rules are there for everyone, and breaking them comes with consequences.
