KARACHI: Inspector General of Sindh Police Ghulam Nabi Memon has said that the biggest problem in the metropolis is a lack of trained drivers, who are also responsible for unabated tragic accidents.

Speaking at a seminar organised by the Karachi Traffic Police regarding ‘traffic laws and faceless E-ticketing challan’ here on Thursday, the IG said that in civilised world, traffic systems were being run with the help of CCTV cameras where traffic policemen were not seen on roads.

He claimed that the ratio of fatal accidents in the city had now been reduced from 90 plus to 50.

He said prior to the launch of the e-ticketing system, the driving licence system has been modernised and equipped with modern facilities.

IGP blames untrained drivers for most road accidents in the city

He pointed out that an online driving licence facility was introduced in the year 2024 and, so far, 475,000 citizens had been registered. Out of them, around 300,000 citizens had got online driving licences.

IG Memon pointed out that in new law, fines have been increased against driving without licence whose main purpose was to discourage drivers without the licence.

He said that as per the new law, drivers without a licence for motorcycles, cars, LTV and heavy vehicles would have to pay a fine of Rs20,000, Rs25,000, Rs30,000 and Rs50,000, respectively.

Underlining the importance of improving the Traffic Engineering Bureau (TEB), IG Memon said engineers of the TEB were competent but provision of required facilities to them was also an imperative.

He said education and awareness about importance of wearing helmet was also needed.

He said the complaints mechanism against the police would run on the basis of evidence and proof.

He said if anyone had grievance against this e-ticketing system, he / she could approach the panel of police officials representatives of the public.

“The complaint mechanism would be extremely transparent and impartial,” the provincial police chief said.

The IG said the system was being implemented as team work comprising representatives of police, transport ministry, excise department, driving licence branch and other stakeholders.

Additional IG of Karachi Javed Alam Odho recalled that last year, a sudden increase was registered in fatal accidents. A ‘strategy’ was then chalked out and implemented to contain the trend.

He regretted that a negative perception was developed against the police while implementing traffic laws.

AIG Odho admitted that complaints against traffic police often increased during strict implementation of traffic laws.

The city police chief said faceless e-ticketing was supposed to be implemented from next year but it was decided to enforce it immediately.

“Now technology would decide who is at fault,” he said. “The staff sitting in the monitoring room would record evidence,” he added. However, he said, a massive infrastructure was needed for improving traffic flow.

AIG Odho said the faceless e-ticketing system would end abuse of powers by police and their negative attitude towards the public.

Karachi Traffic police DIG Syed Pir Mohammed Shah said that during the ongoing year, a total of 211 citizens were killed in road accidents and most of them were motorbike riders. He said most of these accidents happened to be ‘hit-and-run’, therefore, the exact reasons could not be established.

He said under this system, installing of trackers in all heavy and light vehicles would be mandatory whose control would be with the traffic police.

He said fatal accidents being caused by over-speeding and other reasons are being assessed by the traffic police.

The seminar participants were also informed about ‘digital application’ of e-ticketing challan.

Former IGs of police, educationists, university professors, lawyers, transporters, business community members, industrialists, IT experts and social organisations’ representatives attended the seminar.

Published in Dawn, October 3rd, 2025