New face-less e-ticketing system issues fine to Karachi Traffic DIG's vehicle

Incident occurs on Lyari Expressway as DIG Traffic’s vehicle exits Garden Interchange

Karachi's newly implemented faceless e-ticketing system has issued a fine to a vehicle belonging to the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Traffic Police, Pir Muhammad Shah, for violating traffic rules. The fine was issued for the driver not wearing a seatbelt while driving, amounting to Rs10,000.

The incident occurred on the Lyari Expressway as the DIG Traffic's vehicle exited at the Garden Interchange. While the driver was behind the wheel, the DIG was not in the vehicle at the time. His squad was en route to pick him up from the Garden Headquarters.

According to a statement from the Traffic Police spokesperson, the law applies to everyone, regardless of status, and no exceptions will be made. The department also reiterated that strict action will be taken against anyone violating traffic rules, without discrimination.

The traffic police have urged citizens to comply with traffic laws to ensure their safety and that of others, particularly emphasising the importance of always wearing seatbelts.

E-Ticketing System Issues Thousands of Fines

In the first 24 hours since the launch of the faceless e-ticketing system, Karachi Traffic Police issued over 4,300 electronic fines, totalling more than Rs 21.5 million. The violations included seatbelt offences (2,290 tickets), speeding (845), and helmetless riding (655).

Other offences included jumping red lights (306 fines), using mobile phones while driving (162), driving on the wrong side of the road (33), and illegal parking (15). There were also fines for violations such as overloading (4), illegal tinted windows (3), and improper use of lanes (21).

Traffic Police officials noted that in the first six hours of the system's rollout, 2,662 fines had already been issued, with a total of 4,301 e-tickets recorded by midnight on Tuesday.

Read: Karachi's e-challan system made operational; Rs13m fines issued in just six hours

According to DIG Traffic Police Peer Muhammad Shah, the new automated system utilises cutting-edge surveillance technology, including Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), Intelligent Transport System (ITS), and Facial Recognition (FR) cameras, all integrated under the Safe City Authority to identify and fine traffic violators.

The introduction of this automated e-ticketing system marks a significant milestone in ensuring compliance with traffic laws and improving monitoring of traffic offences. The authorities have called for public cooperation to make the system more effective and to contribute to reducing accidents and improving traffic conditions in the city.

The DIG added that modern surveillance cameras have so far been installed in 30 per cent of the city's areas, with work in the remaining zones expected to be completed soon.

Currently, major arteries and areas — including Sharah-e-Faisal, Sir Shah Suleman Road, Rashid Minhas Road, Shahrah-e-Pakistan, Gulshan-e-Iqbal Chowrangi, and Qayyumabad Chowrangi — are covered. The total number of advanced cameras is expected to reach 12,000 in the coming phase.

From November 1, any heavy vehicle found operating without a tracker will face a fine of Rs100,000, while speeding violations by such vehicles will attract fines of up to Rs20,000 each. The DIG announced that the traffic police have signed an agreement with Pakistan Post to ensure prompt delivery of e-challans. Tickets for violations will reach homes in Karachi, Hyderabad, and Mirpurkhas within 24 hours, and in other cities within three days.