Senior police officers lose traffic privileges

Lahore ends 'green channel' protocol; only IG, CCPO to get route clearance

LAHORE:

Lahore Traffic Police has permanently abolished the decades-old "green channel" protocol that allowed senior police officers to cut through traffic, jump red lights and halt movement for their convoys. Under the new policy, only the Inspector General of Punjab and the Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Lahore will receive route clearance — and that too strictly on security grounds.

All other officers, including DIGs, SSPs, SPs and those below, will now stop at traffic signals and wait in queues like ordinary citizens.

The directive, issued by Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Dr Athar Waheed, has been communicated to all circle and sector in-charges. They have been warned that no traffic is to be halted nor any signal manipulated for the movement of police officials. According to sources, implementation is being closely monitored, and the CTO has made it clear that any violation will trigger immediate disciplinary action.

The move stems from Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif's landmark 20-point traffic reform package - the first comprehensive restructuring of Punjab's traffic management system in more than six decades. During a marathon session on road safety and modern traffic governance, the Chief Minister rolled out an extensive set of measures and fixed strict deadlines for their enforcement.

Key decisions include the auction of vehicles with repeated traffic violations, heavy penalties for government vehicles without exemptions, a 30-day deadline to eliminate one-way violations, and the redesigning of dangerous U-turns.

The government has also directed immediate payment of diyat to families of road accident victims and imposed a complete ban on rooftop travel in buses across Punjab. Marriage halls lacking proper parking facilities will be sealed, while underage driving will now carry up to six months' imprisonment for vehicle owners.

Additionally, Qingqi rickshaws have been completely banned on five model roads in Lahore.

Issuing a stern warning to traffic officials, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz declared this as their final chance to deliver.

She made it clear that if the system could not be fixed, the government would create a new department to take over. No one, including ministers, bureaucrats or police officers, would be considered above the law, she emphasised.

Reinforcing the new "zero tolerance" approach, Lahore Traffic Police has also launched a crackdown on outstanding e-challans. A total of 1,282 vehicles belonging to 55 government departments were found in default, and more than 200 official vehicles faced impoundment threats for non-payment. CTO Dr Athar Waheed stated that the law would apply equally to all, whether the violator was a senior official or a private citizen. Letters have already been dispatched to all defaulting departments demanding immediate clearance of dues.