Karachi Driver Fined Rs50,000 in One Day

The newly launched electronic traffic challan (e-challan) system in Karachi has come under sharp criticism after a local motorist was slapped with five fines totaling Rs50,000 in just one day, raising concerns about the system’s accuracy and fairness.

The affected driver, Hakimullah, revealed that all five challans were generated on October 30 — three of them at 12:03 pm in Mauripur, and two more just ten minutes later at 12:13 pm in Hasan Square. Each fine cited the same violation: not wearing a seatbelt. Shocked by the hefty cumulative penalty, Hakimullah reached out to the authorities to contest the fines.

Following public backlash, Karachi Traffic Police contacted the driver and advised him to visit a facilitation center to address the issue. Officials later clarified that initial violations would be reviewed and waived, assuring the public that genuine errors would be corrected.

The e-challan system, introduced only last week, aims to modernize traffic enforcement through CCTV cameras and artificial intelligence, automatically detecting traffic violations. Within its first six hours of operation, authorities reported issuing over 2,600 challans amounting to Rs12.5 million in fines, citing violations such as overspeeding, signal jumping, lane discipline breaches, and failure to wear helmets or seatbelts.

However, the system’s rollout has sparked widespread debate. Opposition leaders, lawyers, and citizens have questioned the legality of e-challans, with a petition filed in the Sindh High Court arguing that the system unfairly penalizes vehicle owners instead of actual drivers.

Lawyer Usman Farooq, representing the petitioners, criticized the lack of proper infrastructure — including speed limit signs, zebra crossings, and well-marked lanes — noting that ongoing construction projects often force drivers onto wrong routes. Critics claim the system fails to account for these realities, burdening ordinary motorists with unfair penalties.

Despite the controversy, traffic officials maintain that the system is a necessary step toward improving road safety and discipline in Karachi. But with growing complaints, authorities may soon be forced to rethink its implementation and fine structure.