Karachi Police Warn of Fake E-Challan SMS Amid Court Petition

Residents urged to verify fines only through official platforms as city rolls out digital traffic system; court petition questions fairness of penalties.

The Karachi Traffic Police has issued a public warning over a wave of fake e-challan SMS messages being circulated under its name, calling them fraudulent and misleading. Citizens have been cautioned against sharing personal data or making payments based on such texts, following multiple complaints of bogus fine notifications.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Traffic Pir Muhammad Shah said no official e-challans are currently issued via SMS and urged motorists to verify fines only through authorized channels. “People should ignore any messages claiming to be official e-challans. Karachi Traffic Police has not started issuing challans via SMS,” he said, advising residents to use official websites or applications for verification.

Amid the alert, Karachi Traffic Police launched a new mobile application, “Tracks Citizen,” enabling motorists to view e-challans, monitor violations, and track vehicles linked to their CNICs. Officials said the app aims to enhance transparency and accessibility under the city’s broader digital traffic management reform. Once logged in, users can view all registered vehicles and any active fines in one dashboard.

The Sindh government has also announced that the first e-challan for each motorist will be waived as part of the new enforcement rollout. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah made the announcement after receiving a report from Inspector General of Police Ghulam Nabi Memon, which revealed that 35 government vehicles—including one police car fined on the Lyari Expressway—had been issued e-challans for violations such as not wearing seat belts, jumping red lights, and using mobile phones while driving. Citizens can request a waiver within 10 days of issuance, though repeat violations will still incur fines.

Chief Minister Shah emphasized that “civilized citizens always obey traffic rules,” adding that even police officers are not exempt from penalties under the modern e-ticketing system. He reiterated that all citizens have equal rights and that law enforcement agencies must lead by example.

However, the system has sparked legal opposition. The Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML) has filed a petition in the Sindh High Court, challenging the e-challan system as discriminatory and unjust. The plea argues that Karachi’s deteriorating infrastructure makes it unreasonable to impose heavy fines—up to Rs5,000 compared to as low as Rs200 in Lahore—and claims that threats to block national identity cards over unpaid fines violate fundamental rights.

Separately, MQM MPA Adil Askari submitted an adjournment motion in the Sindh Assembly, criticizing the enforcement of the system without first improving road safety infrastructure. The motion cited issues including non-functional traffic signals, missing zebra crossings, and widespread encroachments, urging the government to suspend e-challans until road conditions are upgraded.

Since its launch, Karachi’s e-ticketing system has issued over Rs12.5 million in fines and nearly 2,700 challans within six hours, reflecting strong enforcement activity despite public skepticism.

The rollout of the Tracks Citizen app and the city’s transition to digital policing come as part of Sindh’s broader “Smart Traffic” initiative aimed at improving urban mobility and accountability. Karachi Traffic Police and the Sindh government have pledged to refine the system based on citizen feedback while pursuing public awareness campaigns to combat misinformation, including the spread of fake e-challan messages.