Govt reduces penalties under new traffic law

LAHORE: The Punjab government has lowered penalties for several traffic offences under the Provincial Motor Vehicles Bill 2026, which has replaced the earlier Provincial Motor Vehicles Ordinance 2025.

The new law came into effect after receiving approval from Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan. According to the revised legislation, fines and imprisonment provisions linked to a range of traffic violations have been eased across the province.

Under the updated framework, jail terms have been removed for most traffic offences, while monetary penalties have also been cut significantly.

Key changes in penalties

Under the new provisions, offences related to driving licences that were previously punishable by fines ranging from Rs50,000 to Rs100,000, along with imprisonment, will now carry a fine of Rs5,000 with no jail term.

The penalty for violating one-way traffic rules has also been reduced. Earlier, the offence carried a fine of Rs50,000 or six months imprisonment. Under the new law, it will now be punishable with a fine of Rs5,000.

Similarly, the fine for underage driving has been reduced from Rs50,000 to Rs10,000.

The changes mark a substantial revision in the province’s traffic penalty regime following the enactment of the Provincial Motor Vehicles Bill 2026.

The legislation replaces the Provincial Motor Vehicles Ordinance 2025 and introduces major relief in fines and imprisonment clauses related to traffic offences in Punjab.

The revised law specifically alters punishment for multiple categories of violations by reducing financial penalties and removing custodial punishment in most cases.

Among the most notable amendments are those concerning driving licence-related offences, one-way violations and underage driving, all of which now carry lower fines than those prescribed under the previous legal framework.

The law is now in force across Punjab following the governor’s approval, with the revised penalties applicable under the new legal regime.