Traffic rule violations in Karachi are now proving heavy on citizens’ pockets.
After the introduction of the E-Challan system, police have started imposing steep fines, while the same offenses cost far less in other major cities like Islamabad and Lahore.
For instance, exceeding the speed limit on a motorcycle costs Rs. 5,000 in Karachi, compared to just Rs. 1,000 in Islamabad and Rs. 200 in Lahore.
For cars and jeeps, over-speeding results in a fine of Rs. 10,000 in Karachi, Rs. 1,500 in Islamabad, and only Rs. 750 in Lahore.
Heavy vehicles such as buses, trailers, and dumpers face fines of Rs. 20,000 for over-speeding in Karachi, while in Lahore and Islamabad, the fine is only Rs. 2,500.
For wrong-side driving, Karachi motorists can be fined anywhere between Rs. 25,000 and Rs. 100,000, whereas in Islamabad the penalty is just Rs. 1,000 and in Lahore between Rs. 200 and Rs. 750.
Driving without a license carries a fine of Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 30,000 in Karachi, compared to Rs. 1,000–8,000 in Islamabad and just Rs. 200–1,000 in Lahore.
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If a minor is caught driving, the fine in Karachi ranges from Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 100,000, while in Islamabad it is Rs. 2,500, and in Lahore most cases end with a warning.
Drivers in Karachi are expressing anger over what they see as unfair treatment, asking why identical traffic violations carry heavier penalties in their city. They note that despite the poor condition of roads, the fines remain the steepest in the country, some motorists have dubbed the city’s new penalties an “inflation edition” of traffic fines.
