5 min read
Pakistani cities offer a relentless urban grind, no matter which big city traffic people face. May it be Karachi’s blaring horns, or Lahore’s zigzagging motorbikers coming from every which way, or Islamabad’s unpredicted road blockages: there was a time when there was simply no way to find reliable, real-time traffic information for free.
In this mess, Shaheryar Hassan rose up with his idea of “Champ Alerts On the Go (CAOTG),” a simple initiative that has now taken a life of its own, helping Pakistanis commute responsibly. Hassan, who is a finance master’s holder turned public safety crusader, has managed to interweave a web of 245 WhatsApp groups across four major cities, broadcasting real-time alerts with a promise of “99% authenticity.”
In an exclusive conversation with TechJuice, Hassan opened up about the late nights verifying tips, the trust he’s built one notification at a time, and the quiet revolution of community-powered safety in a nation where seconds can mean the difference between a minor delay and a major mishap.
How “Champ Alers On the Go” Started
When asked what inspired him, Hassan reflected on the unmet need he saw in Pakistan’s cities:
Champ Alerts On the Go (CAOTG) was created to fill a gap in reliable and timely local alerts for residents of cities in Pakistan, especially Karachi, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and now Lahore. The inspiration came from a clear need for accurate, real-time updates on traffic conditions, public safety, and other critical community information that was not being met by existing services & I felt this is the least I can do for the society rather than pointing fingers on others. Managing alone everything is not easy but also its not impossible.
Before CAOTG, he explains, people in these cities often had no trusted or fast source for local alerts about blockages, accidents, or developing situations. Traditional media or official notifications were simply too slow. Instead, Hassan leveraged what people were already using: WhatsApp. Today, the platform spans over 100 groups in Islamabad/Rawalpindi and 145 in Karachi, powered by citizen reporting and careful verification.
“I tried to articulate by creating a platform where the public could get ‘real-time news & 99% authentic’ information, encouraging the positive use of every platform,” he said.
Balancing Roles as a Founder
Running CAOTG single-handedly has required Hassan to wear multiple hats: technical lead, community builder, and communicator.
The balancing act between the technical, creative, and leadership aspects is a common challenge for every founder. The technical side involves the hands-on aspects of building and running the platform… As the platform grew my responsibilities became more, public expectations increased & the transitions from doing all the verification, being responsive, and disseminating on time. I always try to find different and effective ways to solve problems & give my best to be of help.
At its heart, Champ Alerts remains a public service, so clear communication and community trust are central to Hasan’s leadership style.
How Champ Alerts On the Go Has Become A Niche Startup
While Pakistan’s startup ecosystem is often focused on scaling fast, Hasan sees CAOTG differently.
Champ Alerts is a niche product with a focused community, rather than a widely scalable social startup. As this service is hyper localized, operates through informal communication channels like WhatsApp, and lacks the fundamental components of a scalable social startup.
The priority is depth, not breadth. By staying hyper-local, CAOTG ensures its updates are genuinely relevant and actionable for the people who depend on them daily.
Value Over Monetization
Despite its growing footprint, Hassan is clear about his intentions:
I never created Champ Alerts On the Go (CAOTG) from monetization point, but rather focused on building value and trust through a free public service where everyone has freedom of speech & a platform from where they can take & give benefit to the citizens of Pakistan.
Impact That Saves Lives
The larger purpose of Champ Alerts is where its impact becomes most evident. Beyond traffic updates, the platform has proven to be a lifeline in emergencies.
The larger purpose of Champ Alerts is to enhance public safety and convenience by empowering citizens with accurate, immediate information & warnings about accidents, road closures, and developing law and order issues… For example, in one incident, a user requested an alert about a landslide. The post helped mobilize authorities to clear the debris, illustrating how Champ Alerts can be a lifeline for people in immediate need.
From missing person alerts to blood donation requests and lost belongings, CAOTG has evolved into a trusted digital community service that directly impacts people’s daily lives.
“Information dissemination within the groups includes images and other content. I consistently cross-reference updates with a select group of verified individuals.” he explained. “Furthermore, I consult with government sources for news verification, particularly regarding notifications. My research strategy also incorporates social media analysis and established research methodologies over the Internet.”
A Citizen-Driven Future
In a country where misinformation often spreads faster than facts, Hassan’s work shows how technology and community spirit can combine for public good.
The CAOTG platform maintains a public presence other than WhatsApp (Facebook, Instagram, Linktree) promoting channels, alerts, and group links. His WhatsApp Channel currently stands at a 183,000+ followers who rely on his accurate information dispersion medium.
The platform has also gotten attention from the governing bodies, as Hassan writes in one of his Facebook posts:
Thank you #PMSYouthProgram for the recognition of Champ-Alerts during #BunyanulMarsoos for dedication, compassion, & unwavering commitment as a Proud …
CAOTG’s footprint is slowly scaling up from just city-wide to a major group-driven national entity. Publicly listed channels indicate the platform now also offers vehicle pools database, public buses, and blood-donation requests, which is a structure that goes beyond a locality operating model.
While CAOTG may not chase a unicorn status, its true value lies in the trust of its users, a currency often more powerful than capital.
