New E-Ticketing System Sparks Outrage After Multiple Errors
A five-star hotel in Karachi was left stunned after receiving an e-challan for a vehicle stolen nearly three decades ago. The Rs10,000 fine, issued for a seatbelt violation allegedly recorded at Hub Toll Plaza, referenced a car that vanished in May 1997 and has never been recovered. According to hotel management, the vehicle was stolen from a parking area near Sharea Faisal, and a case was registered at Saddar Police Station at the time. The sudden issuance of a traffic violation notice for a long-lost vehicle has raised serious concerns about the credibility of Karachi’s automated traffic monitoring system.
The Traffic Regulation and Citation System (TRACS), launched on October 27, aimed to replace Karachi’s outdated manual ticketing procedures with an AI-powered digital mechanism. The system uses advanced CCTV cameras to capture traffic violations such as speeding, red-light jumping, and helmet or seatbelt non-compliance. Despite its ambitious goals, TRACS has faced strong criticism since its inauguration, with many pointing to the lack of infrastructure needed to support such advanced enforcement across the city.
Hotel Demands Recovery of Vehicle Before Paying Fine
The hotel management expressed shock at the development, stating that they would only consider paying the e-challan if authorities first recovered and returned the stolen vehicle. Their reaction reflects broader public frustration, as this incident is not an isolated one.
Just last month, a motorcyclist received an e-challan for a helmet violation—even though his bike had been stolen four years earlier from the Tipu Sultan police premises. Despite filing a theft report at the time, the system generated a Rs5,000 fine against him. Another citizen said he was issued an erroneous e-challan featuring a mismatched number plate—one number shown in the photo, another printed in the text portion of the fine.
These repeated inaccuracies have sparked growing debate about the reliability and readiness of Karachi’s new digital traffic enforcement system. Many worry that without proper checks, innocent citizens will continue to face penalties for violations they never committed—sometimes involving vehicles they no longer even own.
