Karachi Police Collect Rs25 Million Through E-Challan System — Drones, Cameras & Cashless Fines Boost Enforcement

Karachi’s traffic policing has entered a fully digital phase as the city’s cashless e-challan system continues to expand and deliver measurable results. In a high-level review meeting chaired by IG Sindh Ghulam Nabi Memon, officials confirmed that the system has already generated Rs25 million in fines since launch — a clear sign that camera-based enforcement is now firmly operational across the city.

The DIG Traffic reported rising public engagement with the system:

• 23,000+ citizens have visited facilitation centers for verification, payment, and guidance.
• Approximately 4,000 e-challans processed in the initial phase.
• The figure is expected to rise as surveillance coverage expands across additional zones and corridors.

90% of Challans Cleared or Waived After Review

Authorities disclosed that:

• Nearly 90% of issued challans were either paid or waived following verification.
• Fewer than 200 citizens filed formal challenges, indicating broad acceptance of the system.
• Many early challans were linked to system testing and number-plate recognition errors, which have since been corrected through camera recalibration and updated ANPR settings.

This early correction phase helped improve detection accuracy and public confidence, paving the way for wider adoption.

Next Phase: Drone Surveillance & Strict No-Parking Enforcement

The upcoming expansion phase focuses heavily on illegal parking enforcement, particularly in:

• Commercial districts
• Major markets
• High-congestion corridors

New Tools Being Deployed

Karachi Traffic Police now operate with:

• Fixed Safe City cameras
• Mobile ANPR units
• Vehicle-mounted surveillance systems
• Newly deployed policing drones

These drones can detect vehicles parked in restricted or no-parking zones and automatically generate e-tickets without stopping vehicles or engaging on-site staff, eliminating roadside disruption and reducing confrontation.

Divisional DIGs have already submitted camera deployment reports and recommendations to extend surveillance coverage city-wide.

Public Response: Cashless Enforcement Widely Welcomed

IG Sindh noted that Karachi residents have shown strong approval for the faceless e-challan model. Officials attribute this acceptance to:

• Improved compliance with traffic laws
• Reduced need for physical visits to police stations or banks
• Smoother traffic flow from removal of roadside stops
• Fewer complaints against manual challan practices

The key principle of success remains less human interaction and more automation, which:

• Reduces disputes
• Prevents corruption
• Eliminates data entry errors
• Creates consistent enforcement standards

Province-Wide Expansion Under New Motor Vehicle Act

The IG confirmed that under the updated New Motor Vehicle Act, the Sindh government plans to extend the e-challan and Safe City framework to other districts across Sindh.

Coming Facilities in Major Cities

New facilitation centers will enable citizens to:

• Check pending challans
• Dispute incorrect fines
• Pay digitally with cashless options
• Update number plates and vehicle ownership data

The broader objective is a fully integrated province-wide Safe City Network capable of:

• Real-time violation detection
• Automated challan issuance
• Fast public dispute resolution
• Centralized enforcement records

Conclusion

Karachi’s adoption of camera-powered, drone-assisted, cashless e-challan enforcement represents a major transition toward modern traffic policing. With Rs25 million collected, high clearance rates, and strong public acceptance, the city is building a framework that:

• Improves road safety
• Reduces roadside conflict
• Enhances transparency
• Promotes consistent rule enforcement

As expansion unfolds across other Sindh cities, officials expect higher compliance, fewer repeat offenders, and safer roads province-wide, establishing digital traffic enforcement as the new standard for Pakistan’s urban centers.