Sindh’s Minister for Law and Home, Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar, presided over a high-level meeting on Friday to discuss sweeping amendments to the Motor Vehicles Rules.
The session convened top officials and key stakeholders, including the Secretary of Law, Secretary of Transport, DIG Traffic Karachi, and IGP Sindh. The meeting focused on formulating stringent measures aimed at reducing traffic violations and road accidents across the province.
One of the major outcomes of the meeting was the introduction of mandatory fitness certifications for all vehicles, with evaluations to be outsourced to third-party entities. These certifications will be managed through formal Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with selected service providers to ensure transparency and efficiency.
In an aggressive move to crack down on unsafe vehicle modifications, the sale of tinted windows, fancy lights, and sirenswhether through online or offline platformshas been officially banned. A similar zero-tolerance approach has been adopted against non-compliant rickshaws, with only 12 seater models permitted on the roads moving forward.
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Significant penalties were approved to deter reckless behavior. Offenders now face steep fines including PKR 200,000 for government vehicles driving against traffic, PKR 25,000 for motorcyclists violating traffic rules, and hefty penalties for one-wheeling and drifting.
The meeting also reached a consensus on banning four-seater rickshaws and mandating the installation of trackers and sensors in water tankers and dumpers, aimed at improving both accountability and road safety. In a move towards digitization, the government plans to introduce an interlinked online system connecting traffic, transport, and excise departments.
To ensure sustained enforcement, surveillance cameras will be made compulsory in heavy vehicles, and e-challans for traffic violations will be sent directly to vehicle owners’ registered addresses. Additionally, a dedicated Traffic Magistrate will be appointed to expedite the handling of traffic-related offenses.
Sindhs Excise Minister Mukesh Kumar Chawala affirmed full support from his department in implementing the new regulations, adding that no permits would be issued for oversized rickshaws. He also announced an imminent crackdown on non-compliant vehicles plying the roads.
The comprehensive reform package marks a decisive step by the Sindh government towards improving road discipline, reducing traffic casualties, and streamlining vehicular compliance across the province.
