Pay Your Traffic Fines or Lose Your License
The Sindh government has announced a new plan to set up special courts for traffic issues in Karachi. These courts will help people challenge their traffic fines in an official legal setting, making it easier for citizens to defend themselves.
Sindh Inspector General of Police, Ghulam Nabi Memon, explained that fines for breaking traffic rules will soon become much higher to stop people from repeating the same mistakes. Currently, traffic fines are around Rs. 5,000, but they could rise up to Rs. 250,000, depending on how serious the offense is. For very serious violations, the fines might even become ten times higher than they are right now.
If someone does not pay their fine on time, the penalty will get worse. If the fine isn’t paid within three weeks, it will double. If it remains unpaid after three months, the driver’s license could be cancelled. If the fine still isn’t paid after six months, the person’s national identity card (CNIC) could also be blocked.
Memon also said that once the provincial assembly amends the new motor vehicle ordinance, it will require heavy vehicles to install cameras and tracking devices. This will help authorities better manage traffic safety. Video footage from these devices will serve as evidence when traffic cases are heard in court.
Implementation of E-Challan System
Alongside these stricter penalties, the Sindh government will switch to an electronic traffic management system. Cameras installed on roads will automatically issue traffic tickets, making the system fairer and clearer for everyone. This will replace the current method of police officers manually issuing fines.
Before being introduced in Sindh, the e-challan system was implemented across most traffic signals in Lahore. Cameras automatically capture the violator’s number plate, and an e-challan is then sent directly to their home address based on their registered ID card information. Following Lahore’s successful implementation, Sindh is now adopting this advanced technology as well.
These new rules aim to reduce road accidents and improve overall traffic discipline. Once approved by the Sindh Assembly, these changes are expected to greatly enhance road safety and ensure fairness for all drivers in Karachi. Let us know what you think about this step by Sindh’s government.