Lahore Orders Immediate Crackdown on Illegal Driving Schools

The CTO says tighter school registration and strict traffic enforcement are meant to cut a recent spike in motorcycle-linked crashes and hit-and-run fatalities.

Overview

Lahore Chief Traffic Officer Syed Abdul Rahim Shirazi ordered an immediate, citywide shutdown of unregistered private driving schools on Sunday and asked enforcement teams to act against institutes operating without approval.
The CTO directed that all schools must register under Rule 23 of the Motor Vehicles Rules, 1969 and meet clear standards including dual-control training vehicles, proper buildings and classrooms, and certified instructors.
Registered schools will be allowed to charge only officially approved training fees and face legal action if they overcharge or collect unauthorized payments.
Traffic police were told to adopt a zero-tolerance posture on one-way violations, helmet non-use, juvenile driving, overloaded vehicles, lane breaches and one-wheeling and to require QR panic buttons on public transport to protect passengers.
Officials cited rescue data showing 1,268 road crashes, 1,476 injuries and seven deaths across Punjab in 24 hours with 76% of crashes involving motorbikes, and they said investigators are using surveillance footage to hunt the driver in the tractor-trolley hit-and-run that killed 20-year-old Ehtesham.