Karachi traffic police directed to impose strict fines on traffic violations

KARACHI: The Deputy Inspector General (DIG)-Traffic in Karachi issued directives to the city’s traffic police to combat the widespread issue of traffic violations, aiming to impose fines and seize vehicles for non-compliance.

During a recent meeting chaired by the DIG Traffic, he stated that violations such as driving against the designated one-way routes poses a huge challenge to manage traffic in the metropolis.

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The DIG Traffic expressed concern over the recurring violations. He said that many commuters have made it a habitual practice to ignore traffic rules on a daily basis. The focus needed to shift from merely issuing fines to actually ensuring a smooth flow of traffic across the city.

To streamline enforcement efforts, the DIG-Traffic instructed the metropolis’s traffic police that multiple violators should be penalised with a single ‘challan’. This will simplify the enforcement process.

Additionally, the DIG-Traffic ordered the deployment of 30 per cent of traffic personnel during the day and up to 70 per cent at nighttime to intensify surveillance and enforcement of traffic rules, with a particular focus on markets and commercial hubs.

The Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP)-Traffic was also directed by the DIG-Traffic to personally conduct on-site visits to markets and evaluate the traffic situation firsthand. This hands-on approach aims to identify congestion points and implement targeted measures to alleviate traffic bottlenecks.

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Karachi, with a population exceeding 17 million, has long grappled with traffic congestion issues.