E-challan only on roads with signage in Karachi, SHC told

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Motorists are stuck in the gridlock at the intersection of I.I. Chundrigar Road and Dr Ziauddin Ahmed Road, on Oct 7. —Fahim Siddiqi / White Star
Motorists are stuck in the gridlock at the intersection of I.I. Chundrigar Road and Dr Ziauddin Ahmed Road, on Oct 7. —Fahim Siddiqi / White Star

KARACHI: The traffic police on Wednesday informed the Sindh High Court that e-challan system had only been initiated on the corridors of the city where road infrastructure, lane marking and signage were fully operational.

It also submitted that the under-construction thoroughfares were excluded from e-ticketing system till the completion of development work and installation/upgradation of road infrastructure.

The comments were filed on the behalf of deputy inspector general of police (traffic) in one of several identical petitions filed against implementation of e-challan system in Karachi.

It further said that the provincial government had already provided relief by allowing 50 per cent discount if the challan was paid within 14 days and traffic courts were also being set up to ensure transparency.

After taking the comments on record, a two-judge constitutional bench of the SHC headed by Justice Yousuf Ali Sayeed adjourned the hearing till March 12 as a provincial law officer sought more time to file comments on the behalf of other respondents.

Citing the chief secretary Sindh, secretary home department, excise and taxation department, inspector general of Sindh police, DIG traffic police and others as respondents, the petitioners asserted that the Al-based e-challan system was implemented in the city without ensuring necessary road infrastructure, vehicle ownership verification mechanism and other allied facilities.

Published in Dawn, February 19th, 2026

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