In a massive crackdown on traffic violations across Punjab, police authorities have demonstrated zero tolerance for traffic rule breakers, resulting in thousands of arrests and penalties within a single day.
Unprecedented Enforcement Drive
The Punjab Police launched an intensive campaign against traffic violators, leading to the arrest of 3,195 citizens and registration of 3,215 cases within just 24 hours. This rigorous enforcement comes as a direct response to Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz's directive for strict implementation of new traffic reforms and a modern traffic management system throughout the province.
According to official statistics, police teams demonstrated remarkable efficiency during this drive, impounding 12,814 vehicles that included motorcycles and rickshaws for repeated violations. The enforcement action also resulted in the issuance of 50,480 challans totaling over Rs63 million in fines.
Environmental and Safety Measures
The crackdown extended beyond typical traffic violations to address environmental concerns and vehicle fitness standards. Authorities took strict action against 3,511 smoke-emitting vehicles by imposing fines, while 384 such vehicles were impounded completely. In a significant move toward ensuring roadworthiness, fitness certificates of three vehicles were seized during the operation.
Simultaneously, the government took positive steps toward regularizing drivers by issuing 42,561 driving licences as part of broader efforts to improve road discipline and ensure all drivers are properly licensed.
Broader Impact and Road Safety Context
The recent 24-hour enforcement represents just part of a larger week-long campaign that saw Punjab Police issue more than 257,000 challans, generating Rs203 million in fines. This substantial revenue indicates the scale of traffic violations occurring across the province.
However, these enforcement measures unfold against a grim backdrop of road safety statistics. During the same 24-hour period, Punjab witnessed 1,438 road traffic crashes that resulted in at least 16 fatalities and 1,652 injuries. Emergency services responded promptly, with 677 seriously injured people transported to hospitals while 943 victims with minor injuries received immediate treatment at accident sites from Rescue Medical Teams.
The contrasting figures of extensive traffic enforcement and continuing road accidents highlight the critical need for sustained safety measures and public compliance with traffic regulations across Punjab.
