According to recent reports, residents of Karachi are being charged e-challan traffic fines that are far higher than in Lahore — sometimes by a factor of 10 to 100.
For example, for a signal violation, Karachi motorists may be fined about Rs 5,000, whereas in Lahore the fine for similar offenses can be as low as Rs 200–500. For wrong-way driving, a motorcyclist in Karachi could face up to Rs 25,000, compared with around Rs 2,000 in Lahore.
The new e-challan system in Karachi — under the aegis of Karachi Traffic Police / Traffic Regulation and Citation System (TRACS) — issued millions of rupees in fines within hours of activation. For instance, in its first 6 hours the system reportedly issued fines amounting to over Rs 12.5 million.
However, the steep fines have drawn backlash. Critics argue that imposing such heavy penalties — before improving road infrastructure, addressing poor signalization and markings — is unfair. A petition has been filed at Sindh High Court (SHC) seeking review of the e-challan policy, calling the disparity “discriminatory and illegal.”
Authorities defend the high fines as a deterrent to rampant traffic violations and say the aim is to curb reckless driving, reduce accidents, and encourage compliance with traffic laws.