KARACHI – Digital surveillance and stricter enforcement have played a key role in reducing road fatalities across Karachi, according to DIG Traffic Police Karachi Peer Muhammad Shah.
Addressing concerns regarding the rising number of e-challans, the DIG said that deterrence is essential for improving road discipline and ensuring public safety. During a meeting at the Karachi Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KCCI) on Monday, he highlighted how advanced monitoring tools, automated challans and stronger enforcement measures are steadily reshaping Karachi’s traffic environment.
The meeting was attended by KCCI President Muhammad Rehan Hanif, Senior Vice President Muhammad Raza, Vice President Muhammad Arif Lakhani, Chairman Law & Order Subcommittee Akram Rana, PCLC Chief Hafeez Aziz, former KCCI presidents and Executive Committee members.
Fatalities Drop After E-Challan System
DIG Shah said that long-standing traffic disorder and reckless driving habits have deeply rooted themselves in society, requiring consistent enforcement to correct. He shared that before the digital system, Karachi recorded an average of three road accident deaths per day. After e-challan implementation, fatalities have dropped to two per day, with only 46 traffic-related deaths reported last month — a marked improvement attributed to technology-led monitoring.
He noted that fine structures in developed countries are determined by the type of violation rather than the violator’s financial status. Following global standards, the government now allows a complete waiver of fines for first-time offenders through 11 dedicated facilitation centers. Reducing fines across the board, he said, would weaken deterrence and be unfair to law-abiding citizens.
Speed Limits, Number Plate Violations and New Measures
Clarifying misconceptions about Karachi’s main artery, he said Shahrah-e-Faisal is not a motorway and therefore cannot allow speeds above 60 km/h. He stressed that strict enforcement is needed to ensure compliance, adding that awareness campaigns are being expanded to improve road sense among drivers.
DIG Shah also warned that concealing number plates will now lead to FIR registration. With an extensive network of cameras installed along Shahrah-e-Faisal, monitoring has significantly tightened. From December, motorcycles will be restricted to dedicated bike lanes on the same route to reduce accidents.
He added that decorative or non-standard number plates will be fined, and all seven excise departments nationwide are being digitally interconnected to streamline tracking of violations under the new points-based penalty system. Drivers with exhausted points will face escalated penalties.
Need for Better Traffic Engineering
DIG Shah stressed the importance of activating the Traffic Engineering Bureau for proper installation and repair of traffic signals. He highlighted the growing number of dumper-related accidents during winter due to rubber-based tires and said four new fitness centers are being established in Karachi to prioritize the inspection and licensing of dumpers. No dumper will be allowed on the roads without an approved tracking device.
Business Community Highlights Infra Gaps
Speaking via Zoom, BMG Vice Chairman Javed Bilwani urged authorities to transfer traffic signal management from KDA to a more capable institution. Only 39 of Karachi’s 89 traffic signals are currently operational, he said, whereas a city of Karachi’s scale requires around 1,200 signals.
He also raised enforcement concerns regarding vehicles from other provinces and recommended stricter implementation of the driver penalty point system, including suspension of licenses once points fall below a predefined limit.
KCCI Calls for Holistic Traffic Reform
KCCI President Rehan Hanif questioned the monitoring of dumpers and tankers and stressed the need for more effective fitness checks. He acknowledged that Karachi’s traffic system has improved significantly, with visible control over VIP movement and better compliance on major roads.
Rehan Hanif reiterated that the e-challan is a fine, not a tax, and said KCCI will fully support its lawful implementation. However, he highlighted that Karachi’s traffic signals, zebra crossings, signage and road encroachment issues still require urgent attention. Addressing these widespread infrastructure gaps, he said, is vital for a safe, sustainable and orderly traffic environment.