KARACHI: The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) on Wednesday expressed serious issues about Karachi’s newly launched e-challan system, saying the surge in fines issued within hours of its rollout suggests the Sindh government is more focused on generating revenue than improving traffic management.
Nearly 2,662 tickets worth over Rs12.5 million were issued within the first six hours of the system’s launch, according to official data.
In a statement, MQM-P members of the Sindh Assembly described the initiative as a “financial burden” on Karachi’s residents and accused the provincial government of using it to “fill the treasury.”
They claimed that corruption within the traffic police remains unchecked and that the e-challan system has “turned into a money-making scheme under the appearance of traffic violations.”
The lawmakers further alleged that despite modern surveillance cameras, traffic officers continue to harass and force motorists for minor infractions.
“While the e-challan fills the provincial treasury, the powerful tanker mafia continues to operate with impunity under alleged police protection,” the statement read. “Ordinary citizens are being forced to pay hefty fines for small mistakes, increasing their financial stress.”
MQM-P lawmakers demanded strict action against corrupt traffic officials and called on the Sindh government to end what they called a “double standard” in enforcement. They urged that the e-challan system be used to promote road safety and transparency rather than serve as a tool for unchecked revenue collection.
As per the Karachi Traffic Police, 2,662 e-challans were issued in the initial hours of operation, including 419 for overspeeding, three for lane violations, four for stop-line breaches, 1,535 for not wearing seatbelts, 166 for running red lights, 507 for riding without helmets, seven for tinted windows, five for illegal parking, five for no-parking violations, three for driving the wrong way, and 32 for using mobile phones while driving.