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Karachi Rolls Out Camera-Based E-Challan as Early Fines Mount, Critics Push Back

The rollout pairs automated fines with discounts, appeals, expansion plans.

Overview

  • Phase one deploys 1,076 cameras on major roads under the Safe City Project, with officials planning expansion to as many as 12,000 cameras citywide including toll plazas.
  • Traffic police reported 2,662 e-challans in the initial hours and Rs12.5 million collected in six hours, while another outlet reported more than 5,500 tickets issued since launch.
  • Initial violation data include 1,535 seatbelt cases, 419 overspeeding, 166 red-signal breaches, and 507 helmet violations, with additional counts for tinted windows, illegal parking, wrong-way driving, and mobile phone use.
  • Payments receive a 50% waiver within 14 days, fines double after 21 days, licenses can be suspended after three months of non-payment, and NADRA may block CNICs after six months.
  • Citizens can appeal at 11 facilitation centers where a committee reviews cases and pauses the payment timer, and violations can be tracked via the Trax4Citizens app; MQM-P lawmakers accuse the government of using the system to raise revenue and allege ongoing extortion by traffic officers.