Govt plans steep hike in traffic fines

Express Tribune

2 days ago

The Punjab government is finalising a sweeping proposal to revise traffic penalties across the province, with some fines expected to rise as much as tenfold.
The move, initiated under the directives of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, aims to curb rising road violations and improve public safety.
According to SSP Traffic Ghazanfar Ali Shah, common offences such as riding without a helmet, driving against traffic, and driving without a valid license will now carry proposed fines of Rs2,000. "The ex-isting fine structure has been in place since 2006 and is no longer effective in today's traffic envi-ronment. A revision is critical to improving road discipline," he said, adding that the updated fines will be enforced immediately once approved.
In response to growing concerns over traffic violations, Punjab's traffic authorities have intensified operations against unlicensed drivers. Over 178,000 challans were issued this month alone for driving without a license, with Lahore accounting for more than 70,000 cases.
Additional Inspector General (AIG) Traffic, Mirza Farhan Baig, has instructed all regional traffic units to adopt a zero-tolerance approach toward un-licensed motorists.
"No leniency will be shown. Citizens must obtain proper licenses to ensure their safety and avoid penalties," he stated.
In another major development, district police have been empowered to assist in recovering unpaid e-challans. With more than Rs6 billion in outstanding dues, defaulters now face home raids and potential restrictions on vehicle transfers, registrations, and other official processes.