Commuters in Rawalpindi are facing a new reality on the roads. The focus of the traffic police has shifted from safety to statistics. The department has officially enforced a strict policy that requires every traffic warden to issue a minimum of 10 challans per day. Consequently, this creates a predatory environment where common citizens become easy targets for fines.
Reportedly, traffic police personnel are under immense pressure. The administration is not prioritising smooth traffic flow. Instead, they are demanding numbers. An internal performance document dated December 2, 2025, flagged over 120 officials for “poor performance”. These officers committed the “crime” of issuing fewer than the required 10 tickets.
Many of these flagged wardens recorded between one and eight challans. As a result, they have received show-cause notices. This aggressive crackdown spans major zones, including Murree Road, Old and New Airport Roads, Saddar, Adiala, and Civil Lines.
This quota system forces wardens into a difficult position. Traffic policing involves managing flow, guiding commuters, and handling road emergencies. However, these vital tasks take time. If a warden spends hours clearing a bottleneck or helping at an accident site, they fail their daily quota.
Therefore, the administration’s policy effectively punishes officers for doing actual police work. To save their jobs, wardens must prioritise handing out tickets over ensuring public safety.
Traffic policing should not be a numbers game. Arguably, this system encourages unnecessary and forced challans. When an officer has a target on their back, they will find a reason to fine a citizen, regardless of the actual violation.
Analysts suggest this policy creates an unhealthy environment. While enforcement is necessary, setting numerical financial targets is dangerous. It damages the relationship between the public and the police. Ultimately, the common citizen bears the burden of a policy that values revenue and statistics over fairness and service.