In the past year, Karachi’s traffic police have collected Rs1.2 billion in fines from citizens for various traffic violations, according to official data.
The fines, amounting to an average of Rs3.5 million per day, were issued between July 1, 2023, and July 31, 2024. Over two million Karachi residents were penalised during this period, resulting in a total of Rs1,294,886,450 in fines.
However, Rs100 million in fines remain unpaid, with 114,142 violators yet to settle their dues. From January to July 2024 alone, nearly one million tickets were issued, generating Rs699,813,650 in fines.
Despite assertions by Sindh Inspector General of Police Ghulam Nabi Memon that traffic police are not intended to serve as a revenue-generating entity, the substantial fines suggest otherwise.
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The traffic police are entitled to 30 per cent of the collected fines, potentially earning them Rs360 million from the Rs1.2 billion total. The remaining 70 per cent goes to the provincial government.
However, DIG-Traffic Ahmed Nawaz Cheema disclosed that traffic police officers had not received their entitled share of fines for the past four to five years. Of the 30 per cent share, 15 per cent is designated for cash rewards for officers, while the rest is allocated for equipment procurement.
DIG Cheema stressed that the police’s primary focus is on penalising serious traffic violations, such as wrong-way driving, running red lights, and driving without license plates. He noted that since the new directives from the IGP, the rate of traffic tickets has dropped by one-third.
District East led in fines, collecting over Rs240 million from 357,374 tickets, followed by District West with Rs224 million from 309,170 tickets, and District Malir with Rs207 million from 317,310 tickets.
