The Sindh government has approved the establishment of special traffic courts to handle e-challan offences, aiming to streamline the growing number of digital traffic violation cases. The decision, taken during a provincial cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, will allow existing consumer courts to function as traffic courts, subject to approval from the Sindh High Court.
In a significant move to strengthen road safety enforcement, the Sindh cabinet has decided to empower consumer courts in every district to deal with traffic-related offences under the new e-challan system.
Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said the step would enable fast-track hearings without the need to establish new judicial infrastructure.
“Empowering existing courts allows for specialized and fast-track trials of traffic violations without building new judicial infrastructure,” the Chief Minister stated after the cabinet meeting.
The proposal will be implemented after consultation and formal approval from the Sindh High Court.
The decision comes amid a sharp increase in camera-based enforcement under Sindh’s Safe City and traffic monitoring initiatives. Officials say tens of thousands of digital traffic citations are being issued every month, putting pressure on traditional civil and criminal courts.
Motorists and transport associations have raised concerns regarding the enforceability of e-challans, arguing that there was no dedicated judicial mechanism to challenge or appeal the fines. Several petitions are currently pending before the Sindh High Court seeking clarity on the legal framework.
By granting jurisdiction to consumer courts, the government aims to create a structured and legally sound system for resolving disputes related to digital traffic violations.
Sindh has significantly expanded surveillance-based traffic enforcement in recent years, particularly in Karachi and other major cities. The Safe City project uses automated number plate recognition and CCTV cameras to detect violations such as over-speeding, signal jumping, and lane breaches.
However, the absence of specialized courts had created a backlog and legal ambiguity. The new arrangement is expected to improve compliance, ensure due process, and enhance transparency in traffic enforcement.
If approved by the High Court, the initiative could serve as a model for other provinces considering similar digital enforcement systems.
