CM Punjab exempts Sikh riders from helmet law

رمیش سنگھ اروڑہ صاحب کی بات ہم سب کے دل کی آواز ہے۔ دنیا نے وہ مناظر دیکھے جنہوں نے نام نہاد سیکولر دعووں کی حقیقت عیاں کر دی۔ وہ نقاب کسی بچی سے نہیں، ان کی منافقت سے اتارا گیا۔
ہیلمٹ قانون کا مقصد صرف جان کا تحفظ ہے۔ سکھ برادری کی پگڑی ان کی شناخت اور عقیدہ ہے۔ اسی احترام کے… pic.twitter.com/7E6qbq6h1z

The exemption, if formally notified, would carve out an exception to Section 89-A of the Provincial Motor Vehicles Ordinance, which mandates protective headgear for motorcycle riders.

However, no official notification, amendment, or gazette order has yet been issued to operationalise the exemption. As of December 26, 2025, neither the Punjab government nor the Punjab Traffic Police has released enforcement guidelines or clarified how eligibility would be verified on the roads.

Read: Sikh biker challaned for not wearing helmet despite exemption

Punjab Traffic Police launched a strict enforcement drive in the last week of November after amendments to the Motor Vehicles Ordinance, 1965 raised fines and punishments for traffic violations. Thousands of arrests were made, and fines worth millions of rupees were issued, with helmet-related violations forming a significant portion of the action.

The crackdown triggered public backlash, with criticism over steep fines dominating social media, often in the form of memes. Concerns were also raised by Sikh community members, for whom wearing a turban at all times is a religious obligation, making helmet use impractical.

Addressing the ceremony in the presence of President of Pakistan, representatives of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC), Federal Minister for Minorities Affairs Ramesh Singh Arora, and other minority leaders, the chief minister framed the move as part of a broader minority rights policy.

Moments before announcing the exemption, Maryam Nawaz criticised an incident in India where a Muslim girl’s hijab was removed during a ceremony by a dignitary, calling it emblematic of what she described as India’s “hypocrisy on secularism.”

She also pointed to the Punjab government’s recent steps for minorities, including raising the quota for the Minority Welfare Card from 75,000 to 100,000 beneficiaries.

No clarity on implementation

Despite widespread media coverage of the chief minister’s remarks, there is still no clarity on enforcement, including whether Sikh riders will need documentation, how traffic wardens will identify exemptions, or when the law will be formally amended.

A Punjab government source said the decision follows multiple interactions between the chief minister and Sikh representatives, adding that parameters for implementation have been discussed and will be announced gradually.

The move has been widely welcomed by Sikh community members. Lahore resident Sardar Bishan Singh termed it a “great decision,” saying the government had shown respect for the cultural and religious significance of the turban.

However, some analysts warn the exemption could trigger broader religious debates, with members of other communities who wear head coverings — such as pagri or ammama — potentially demanding similar treatment.

Read More: Sikh community exempt from helmet laws in Peshawar

Similar exemptions for Sikh riders have been granted in other jurisdictions. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa allowed such an exemption several years ago, while India has also incorporated it into law through amendments. Comparable precedents exist in other regions with significant Sikh populations.

However, the announcement has also raised questions about road safety, with critics asking how the government plans to ensure the protection of Sikh riders in the absence of helmets, especially amid a crackdown aimed at reducing fatal accidents.

Until formal notification is issued, however, the legal status of the exemption remains uncertain, leaving both riders and traffic enforcers in a grey area.