Revolutionary AI-Powered Traffic System Issues 2,662 Tickets in Just Six Hours
Karachi’s long-awaited faceless e-challan system officially went live on Tuesday, October 29, 2025. It made an explosive debut by issuing over 2,600 traffic violation tickets worth more than Rs13 million within just six hours. The automated Traffic Regulation and Citation System (TRACS) marks a historic shift in how Pakistan’s largest city manages traffic enforcement. It replaces decades of manual ticketing with advanced artificial intelligence and surveillance technology.
DIG Traffic Police Peer Muhammad Shah said the new automated system uses advanced surveillance tools. These include Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR), Intelligent Transport System (ITS), and Facial Recognition (FR) cameras.All these tools work under the Safe City Authority to identify and fine traffic violators.
Technology Behind the Revolution
The TRACS system represents a quantum leap in Pakistan’s approach to traffic management. Authorities have installed modern surveillance cameras in 30 percent of the city and plan to complete the remaining zones soon. The system now monitors major routes, including Sharah-e-Faisal, Sir Shah Suleman Road, Rashid Minhas Road, Shahrah-e-Pakistan, Gulshan-e-Iqbal Chowrangi, and Qayyumabad Chowrangi.
Integrated with databases from the Excise and Taxation Department, NADRA, and Driving Licence Branch, TRACS allows automatic issuance of e-challans and online fine payment via web or mobile app—reducing manual intervention to zero and eliminating opportunities for corruption and favoritism.
Breaking Down the Violations
The first six hours revealed shocking statistics about traffic discipline in Pakistan’s commercial capital. The issued e-challans include 1,535 for seatbelt violations, 507 for riding bikes without helmets, 419 for overspeeding, 166 for red-light jumping, 32 for mobile phone use while driving, seven for tinted windows, five for wrong parking, and three for one-way violations.
The majority of violations—1,535 tickets for not wearing seatbelts—made up nearly 58% of all fines. Motorcycle riders without helmets followed with 507 violations. Another 419 cases involved overspeeding, while 166 motorists were caught running red lights.
Heavy Vehicle Enforcement
The system includes special provisions for commercial vehicles. DIG Shah revealed that heavy vehicles, including trucks, dumpers, trailers, tankers, and large buses, must now install trackers linked directly to the DIG Traffic Office. Currently, trackers have been installed in 10,000 out of 22,000 large vehicles operating in the city.
From November 1, any heavy vehicle found operating without a tracker will face a fine of Rs100,000. Additionally, speeding violations by such vehicles will attract fines of up to Rs20,000 each. Meanwhile, the system will automatically issue challans whenever a heavy vehicle exceeds 30 km/h.
Citizen-Friendly Features
Citizens can download the “TRACS Citizen” mobile application or visit the Sindh Police website to check violations. The traffic police have signed an agreement with Pakistan Post to ensure prompt delivery of e-challans—within 24 hours in Karachi, Hyderabad, and Mirpurkhas, and within three days in other cities.
The TRACS app enables real-time updates on violations, with notifications issued in two parts—a warning message and an official e-ticket. Citizens can pay fines online through bank portals, Easypaisa, JazzCash, or Safe City’s payment gateway.
The DIG clarified that the first offense results in a warning, requiring acknowledgment within ten days. Repeat offenders must pay fines for both violations. A Complaint Committee has been formed to review grievances and verify any incorrect fines.
Political Criticism and Public Concerns
While traffic safety advocates welcomed the initiative, some political parties expressed concerns. Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi chief Munem Zafar Khan sharply criticized the system, calling it a “new tactic of looting Karachiites” by the Sindh government.
Addressing a press conference, Zafar termed the e-challan system an injustice, saying it was being implemented without first improving the city’s dilapidated road infrastructure. He claimed the fines were “ten times higher than those in Punjab,” describing it as “a business of looting.”
Government Vision and Policy Framework
Speaking at the launch ceremony, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah emphasized that the modern e-ticketing system would eliminate human interference and favoritism in traffic enforcement. He said advanced cameras will now automatically detect traffic violations and added that the initiative promotes justice, transparency, and accountability.
The chief minister said amendments to the 1965 Motor Vehicle Ordinance are crucial reforms designed to protect public interest. “We are proudly starting this journey of change from Karachi,” he declared, presenting the project as a model for other Pakistani cities.
DIG Shah termed the initiative a “revolutionary step” to curb road accidents caused by reckless driving. “This system is a milestone in transforming Karachi’s traffic enforcement into a modern, transparent, and efficient framework,” he said. “Citizens must realize that the era of manual challans is over—technology will now ensure accountability.”
IG Sindh Ghulam Nabi Memon called the initiative a “long-term investment in road discipline and citizen safety.” He emphasized that the system’s true success lies not in the fines it collects but in the lives it saves through improved traffic discipline.
The Rs13 million in fines issued within the first six hours represent more than enforcement — they serve as a wake-up call for better traffic discipline. As the system expands to 12,000 camera locations, its full impact will soon be visible. The results will show whether this technological solution can truly reduce road accidents and change citizen behavior, addressing Pakistan’s long-standing traffic management challenges.