The growing number of e-challan incidents in Karachi has become a nuisance for citizens as the Sindh Police issued four separate traffic violation e-challans in a single day to a man named Hakeemullah, each from a different location.
What’s surprising is that all four challans were issued on the same date. Hakeemullah, who earns Rs40,000 per month, says receiving fines equal to his entire monthly income in one day is unbearable.
Meanwhile, the Karachi Traffic Police said that the e-challan campaign is continuing across the city with full intensity. In the past 24 hours alone, 3,485 electronic challans were issued, including 2,433 for not wearing seatbelts, 511 for not wearing helmets, and 223 for signal violations.
Meanwhile, a petition has been filed in the Sindh High Court challenging the e-challan system. The court has issued notices to the Chief Secretary, IGP Sindh, DIG Traffic, DG Excise, and NADRA officials, seeking a response by November 25.
The petitioner argues that the fines imposed for traffic violations are unfair and beyond the reach of ordinary citizens. For example, in Lahore, the fine for not wearing a seatbelt is Rs200, while in Karachi the same violation costs Rs5,000.
The petition further states that the Sindh government has set the minimum monthly wage at Rs40,000, which is already insufficient to cover basic expenses such as groceries, bills, and children’s education — making these heavy fines an additional burden on the public.
The plea requests that the fine system be made more equitable and that heavy penalties be suspended until the court delivers its decision.
