- Punjab CM-led meeting decides to increase fines for traffic violations by up to ten times
LAHORE: A high-level consultative meeting was chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif along with PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif on the budget preparation for the upcoming fiscal year at the Chief Minister’s House on Tuesday.
The meeting was attended by Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb along with secretaries of various departments comprising Health, Education, Local Government, Housing, Agriculture, Transport, and Communication & Works (C&W).
During the meeting, development projects worth Rs2,000 billion were presented by various departments. However, the proposed framework for Punjab’s development budget was outlined between Rs1,100 and Rs1,200 billion.
During the briefing it was agreed that the departmental recommendations and schemes should be rationalized to reduce the total uplift budget to between Rs1,000 to Rs1,100 billion. It was claimed that a record Rs724 billion had been utilized on development projects during the current single fiscal year.
Punjab set to hike traffic fines by 10 times
Meanwhile, at a special meeting chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Tuesday, the Punjab government decided to increase fines for traffic violations by up to ten times.
Under the new plan, parents will be held accountable, and FIRs will be registered if underage children are caught driving.
Heavy fines for using mobile phones while driving were also agreed upon in principle, and a ban will be imposed on parking heavily loaded trolleys along major roads.
Strict action will be taken against vehicles operating with broken or nonfunctional headlights. Vehicles carrying dangerously hanging items such as iron rods or protruding parts will be stopped immediately. Cases will also be registered for one-wheeling or dangerously reckless driving.
The meeting also reviewed the remodeling of 372 points across Punjab and 77 within Lahore. It was directed that video and photographic evidence must be attached to all traffic challans to ensure transparency. Traffic wardens will now issue challans “in camera” for better accountability.
CM Maryam Nawaz approved the provision of modern patrol vehicles and advanced equipment to the traffic police. She also ordered the immediate removal of traffic bottlenecks on Bedian Road and other key routes. To help identify and manage traffic congestion in advance, roadside digital screens will be installed.
The proposal to change the traffic police uniform was reviewed, and a decision was made in principle to introduce five new categories of traffic officers: enforcement officer, traffic regulator, education officer, licensing officer, and public service officer.
