More flowers, less challans on city’s roads

Traffic wardens handing out flowers at Iftar time; 8,000 policemen fed on daily basis

LAHORE: In the month of Ramazan, locals are more likely to be given flowers by traffic policemen rather than a challan. Families traveling on the roads are given flowers and Iftar boxes in an effort to boost the image of wardens among commuters.

At the same time, 1,300 traffic wardens are being provided Iftar on roads across the city in the month of Ramazan. Chief Traffic Officers Captain (retd) Liaqat Ali Malik spoke to The Express News and said people are in a hurry to reach home before Iftar. “The pressure of traffic increases on main highways. That is why 1,300 wardens are deployed on the roads and 150 of them are on duty in Ramazan bazaars. The objective is to ensure that traffic flows smoothly and there is vehicle parking for visitors.”



Iftar boxes for wardens are prepared from the Police Lines and include a juice box, dates, samosa and biryani. For three days in a week, wardens are given naan and qorma instead of Biryani.

This Iftar box is prepared at a cost of Rs85 from the Police Lines and is cheaper than last year’s Rs125.

Captain Malik said that food is being prepared for 8,000 policemen on a daily basis, due to which the cost of the Iftar box has decreased. He maintained that he also breaks his fast with the wardens on the road.

Meanwhile, women traffic wardens distribute flowers and Iftar boxes to families traveling in cars and on motorcycles to help the public realise that the force is their own. The expenses of organising iftar for traffic wardens are covered by welfare funds.

Captain Malik further said that crowds increase in markets during the last ten days of Ramazan and citizens park their cars all wrong. To combat this, lifters are permanently stationed at markets and wardens are deployed in large numbers.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 14^th, 2019.