Karachi’s e-challan system is facing significant hurdles as a large number of traffic signals across the city remain inactive, raising concerns over the effectiveness of automated traffic enforcement.
A survey conducted in November 2025 revealed that out of 89 traffic signals in Karachi, only 39 were operational. However, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Traffic Police Karachi, Peer Muhammad Shah, said that recent efforts by the Traffic Engineering Bureau have increased the number of functional signals to 69. Despite this improvement, a substantial portion of the network remains offline, creating challenges for the automated e-ticketing system.
DIG Shah highlighted that the city once had 154 traffic signals, 93 of which were functional, but many were removed when major roads were converted into signal-free corridors. He stressed that Karachi urgently needs 400 new AI-equipped traffic signals to manage traffic efficiently and strengthen enforcement, estimating the cost of this modernisation at around Rs1.25 billion.
For comparison, Mumbai currently operates 569 LED-equipped traffic signals, while New Delhi has 2,160, underlining Karachi’s infrastructure gap. Under a new development plan, 400 smart automated signals are to be installed across the city, with one fully operational modern signal already at PIDC Chowk.
The Traffic Regulation and Citation System (TRACS), launched on October 27, aims to replace the manual ticketing process with a fully automated e-ticketing mechanism, using AI-integrated CCTV cameras to detect violations such as speeding, red-light jumping, and helmet non-compliance.
However, since its launch, the system has sparked controversy. Citizens have reported errors, including receiving e-challans for stolen vehicles or for violations they never committed. In one case, a bike owner received a Rs5,000 e-challan for not wearing a helmet on a bike stolen four years ago from the Tipu Sultan police premises. Another citizen received a challan with mismatched vehicle numbers, highlighting glaring system errors.
The ongoing challenges underscore the urgent need to upgrade Karachi’s traffic infrastructure to support the city’s e-challan system effectively.
