Sindh Police has initiated a training drive to familiarize Karachi police drivers with the newly introduced e-ticketing mechanism, following the citywide implementation of the Traffic Regulation and Citation System (TRACS). The program aims to enhance police personnel’s understanding of digital traffic enforcement and equip them with the necessary technical knowledge to ensure smooth operation of the system. The initiative was announced shortly after Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah formally inaugurated the new system on Monday, marking a significant step toward digital transformation in Karachi’s traffic management.
Under TRACS, traffic violations are monitored in real-time through surveillance cameras installed across the city. When a violation is detected, an electronic challan is automatically generated and dispatched to the vehicle owner’s registered home address via Pakistan Post. The mechanism seeks to bring transparency, accountability, and efficiency to traffic regulation. In the first 24 hours of its operation, the Karachi Traffic Police issued more than 2,650 electronic challans amounting to approximately Rs1.2 million, demonstrating the system’s effectiveness in enforcing road discipline through automation.
The training initiative was formally communicated through a letter issued by the director inspector general of Sindh Police’s Training Department to DIG Police Karachi, DIGs of Traffic Karachi, Technical and Transport, Rapid Response Force, Special Protection Unit, Crime and Investigations, Counter-Terrorism Department, and Special Branch. The letter stated that the training would begin from November 1 and focus on strengthening the skills of police drivers and familiarizing them with TRACS procedures. A total of 925 drivers from various divisions of Sindh Police will undergo the training across two sessions. A spokesperson for Sindh Police shared further details, stating that 500 participants will come from Karachi Range, 100 from Traffic Police, 100 from Technical and Transport, 50 from Rapid Response Force, 25 each from Special Protection Unit and CPEC, 25 from Crime and Investigation, 25 from CTD, 50 from Special Branch, and 50 from DIG Training. The sessions will be conducted at the Scouts Auditorium of the Sindh Boys Scout Association in Karachi.
TRACS has been introduced as part of the Karachi Safe City Project, designed to strengthen urban security and improve public safety using technology. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Admin Karachi Traffic Police Kashif explained that the first phase involves 1,076 surveillance cameras placed at key points across the city’s main roads. Once phases two and three are complete, the network will expand to include 12,000 cameras, covering the entire city and toll plazas. Each challan issued under the system allows 21 days for payment, with a 50 percent waiver available if paid within 14 days. Non-payment after 21 days will result in the amount being doubled on the 22nd day.
While the initiative has been widely recognized as a significant step toward digital traffic enforcement, some concerns have also emerged. A petition filed in the Sindh High Court has challenged the system’s legality, citing inadequate road infrastructure and ownership-verification safeguards. Lawmakers from Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) have also expressed apprehension, calling the system a financial burden on citizens. Despite these objections, the Sindh government remains focused on expanding digital governance tools like TRACS to improve compliance, streamline public service delivery, and modernize urban management through technology-driven solutions.
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