The automated “e-challan” system introduced in Karachi did not spare even the traffic police chief’s vehicle, giving practical proof of the rule of law.
DIG Traffic, Pir Muhammad Shah’s official vehicle was challaned at Garden Interchange when the driver did not bother to fasten his seat belt. The DIG himself confirmed that a challan of Rs 10,000 was issued against his vehicle.
Interestingly, the DIG himself was not present in the vehicle when the challan was issued, but the e-challan system acted without discrimination and recorded the violation immediately.
Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said that those who criticise the system are probably born for this purpose: “We will be happy if we do not get a single rupee from the e-challan system, but citizens obey the law. Whoever breaks traffic rules, let them be ready for a challan.”
DIG Traffic told the media that more than 6,500 e-challans have been issued in two days, while more than four thousand violations were caught in just one day.
According to him, the amount of the e-challan depends on the type of vehicle. The challan for a motorcycle starts from Rs 5,000; for a large vehicle, it goes up to Rs 20,000, while in some serious violations, the challan can be up to Rs 100,000.
The DIG said that currently 1,076 cameras are installed in the city, which will soon be increased to 12,000, while 10,000 trackers are also part of the system. The highest number of violations are being recorded around Shahrah-e-Faisal, Baloch Colony, Fawzia Wahab Flyover and Drug Road.
