LAHORE, MAY 27: The Punjab government has approved a significant increase in traffic violation fines — raising them tenfold — in a bid to curb reckless driving and bring discipline to the province’s roads.

The decision was made during a high-level meeting chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Monday.

The move comes as part of a broader crackdown on traffic violations and is aimed at addressing persistent issues such as underage driving, overloading, use of mobile phones while driving, and dangerous driving practices, which continue to plague major cities across Punjab.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, while presiding over the meeting, expressed strong dissatisfaction over the state of traffic management in Lahore and other urban centres. “There has been no improvement in the traffic system despite repeated warnings,” she observed, adding that “concrete and sustainable measures” are urgently required to bring about real change.

As per the new directives, fines for all major traffic rule violations — including signal jumping, rash driving, and riding without helmets — will be increased by up to ten times. Special emphasis has also been placed on underage driving, which has been cited as a growing safety concern. In such cases, the father or guardian of the minor driver will now be held legally responsible, and a criminal case will be registered against them.

The Chief Minister further directed authorities to impound vehicles found guilty of dangerous driving or overloading. She also approved strict penalties for motorists found using mobile phones while driving, terming it “a major cause of accidents and road casualties.”

During the meeting, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz shared that she had personally reviewed the traffic situation on several roads in Lahore. “The chaos on the roads reflects a systemic failure that must be addressed without delay,” she said, urging traffic police and administrative officials to ensure strict implementation of the new measures.

Officials from the Punjab Police, Lahore Traffic Police, and relevant departments briefed the Chief Minister on the current traffic situation and the challenges faced in enforcement. They assured that necessary reforms would be implemented swiftly in line with the Chief Minister’s vision for safer and better-managed roads.