Sindh govt to introduce traffic courts, hike fines sharply

KARACHI: The provincial government of Sindh has decided to set up traffic courts in Karachi that will allow citizens to challenge traffic fines through legal process. This was announced by Inspector General of Police Sindh Ghulam Nabi Memon.

He said that under the new laws approved by the provincial cabinet, traffic fines will be significantly increased to discourage repeat violations.

“The existing fine of Rs5,000 will be increased to Rs250,000 depending on the severity of the offense,” the IG said, adding that the punishment for violations that lead to possible fatalities will be increased tenfold.

IG Memon explained that fines will be doubled if not paid within 21 days and driving licenses will be cancelled after 90 days. If the fine is not paid even after 180 days, the violator’s National Identity Card (CNIC) will be blocked.

The province is also moving towards a fully digital traffic management system to improve transparency and enforcement. E-challans will be issued automatically through surveillance cameras and sent directly to vehicle owners. Manual traffic enforcement will be phased out with the government’s permission.

He also said that the new Motor Vehicle Ordinance, which will be amended once by the provincial assembly, will make it mandatory for heavy vehicles to have cameras and tracking devices installed.

Once the new law comes into effect, citizens will be able to appeal against traffic fines in court, where they will be presented with video evidence of the violation.