Traffic challan spree irks Hafizabad residents

The Hafizabad Traffic Police have issued a staggering 46,400 challans during the current year, amassing over Rs41.3 million in fines for various violations.

While police officials have hailed the figures as evidence of stringent enforcement and improved road safety, the district's residents and business community have voiced criticism, accusing the authorities of adopting a punitive, quota-driven approach rather than focusing on sustainable traffic management.

According to the official breakdown for 2025, the traffic police fined 6,209 motorists for one-way violations, 6,688 for driving without a licence, 1,545 for riding motorcycles without helmets, 8,014 for overloading of goods or passengers, 2,107 underage drivers, 1,724 for lane and line violations.

As many as 2,254 vehicles were fined or impounded via crane-lifter operations.

The violations collectively generated Rs41.3 million in fines, an amount considered unusually high for a district of Hafizabad's size and population.

Senior officials praised the performance of the traffic department and reaffirmed their commitment to a "zero-tolerance" policy.

"We believe in law enforcement, but this is turning into economic harassment," said a shopkeeper from Madni Bazaar, a commercial hub where traders staged strikes twice earlier this year.

Protesters described the fining practices as "indiscriminate," arguing that repeated penalties — especially in a time of economic inflation, are burdening low- and middle-income citizens.

A spokesperson for the traffic department defended their actions, stating, "Ensuring the safety of lives and property is our foremost duty. Obedience to traffic laws is a hallmark of responsible citizenship, and a safe, civilised society is only possible through collective discipline."

However, local residents appealed to the authorities to review the traffic police's current operational model. Critics argue that enforcement must go hand-in-hand with education, improved infrastructure and professional training of traffic personnel.

"There's a difference between discipline and distress," said one resident. "What we need is community-oriented enforcement, not revenue-driven policing." He warned that continued public distrust could undermine both the legitimacy and effectiveness of traffic law enforcement in the area.