KARACHI: DIG Traffic Police Karachi Peer Muhammad Shah, while responding to concerns expressed over issuance of exorbitantly high e-challans being issued to citizens, said, “Change is impossible without deterrence.”
Exchanging views at a meeting during his visit to the Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) on Monday, DIG Traffic highlighted how the e-challan system, enhanced surveillance, and stricter enforcement are gradually transforming Karachi’s traffic landscape and reducing fatal accidents across the city.
Shah emphasized that traffic disorder and undisciplined driving habits have deeply penetrated society over the years. Eliminating these habits, he stressed, will require sustained effort and strict enforcement.
Sharing statistics, he revealed that before the implementation of the e-challan system, Karachi recorded an average of three deaths per day due to road accidents. With the introduction of digital enforcement, the average has dropped to two fatalities per day, while only 46 traffic-related deaths were reported last month, a notable improvement that reflects the system’s effectiveness.
He explained that in developed countries, traffic fines are determined based on the nature of the violation rather than the violator’s financial capacity. In line with global practices, the government has now allowed complete waiver of fines for first-time offenders.
Citizens may visit any of the eleven facilitation centers to have their first fine waived through a seamless digital procedure. Reducing fine amounts, he noted, would be unfair to law-abiding citizens and would weaken the deterrent effect essential for reform.
Commenting on speed regulations, he clarified that Shahrah-e-Faisal is not a motorway and therefore cannot permit speeds exceeding 60 km/h.
He reiterated that fear of consequences is necessary for compliance: “If there is no fear of the system, how will change come?” He added that efforts are under way to enhance road sense among citizens through increased awareness and consistent enforcement.
DIG Peer Muhammad Shah warned that concealing number plates will now lead to FIR registration, noting that an extensive network of cameras has already been installed on Shahrah-e-Faisal, creating a highly monitored corridor. He further announced that starting December, motorcycles will be strictly required to travel within dedicated bike lanes on Shahrah-e-Faisal to improve safety and regulate traffic flow.
He clarified that enforcement will apply uniformly and that non-standard or decorative number plates will be fined. All seven excise departments across the country were now being interconnected, which would significantly improve coordination in tracking violations and vehicle data. Under the new points-based enforcement system, each citizen is allotted a set number of points; once exhausted, penalties will escalate in a phased manner.
He emphasised the need to activate the Traffic Engineering Bureau for timely installation and maintenance of traffic signals. He highlighted that accidents involving dumpers increase during winter due to rubber-based tires. To address this, four new fitness centers are being established in Karachi, where the fitness and licensing of dumpers will be checked on a priority basis. Furthermore, no dumper will be permitted on the roads unless equipped with an approved tracking system.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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