Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has unveiled a major package of 20 reforms—the most significant in six decades—to improve road safety, traffic management and public transport standards across the province.
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Chairing a detailed meeting on modern traffic planning and road safety, she approved multiple measures aimed at stricter enforcement and safer travel. Under the new policy, vehicles repeatedly fined for traffic violations will be auctioned, while government vehicles will no longer enjoy exemptions. Heavy penalties will apply across the board.
The chief minister also announced a 30-day grace period to eliminate one-way violations and ordered the redesign of U-turns to improve traffic flow. Families of victims of fatal road accidents will receive diyat compensation without delay.
In a bid to reduce congestion, marriage halls without proper parking facilities will not be allowed to operate. A stringent crackdown on underage driving has also been approved, with vehicle owners facing up to six months in jail if minors are caught driving.
A complete ban on passengers travelling on bus rooftops has been imposed across Punjab, and Qingqi rickshaws will be prohibited on five model roads in Lahore. Maryam Nawaz gave traffic authorities a 30-day deadline to bring visible improvement to Lahore’s traffic conditions.
The review meeting also examined reports on helmet violations, rooftop travel, overspeeding and other offences.
The chief minister said action would be taken against vehicles speeding on intercity routes and stressed that traffic rules must be enforced equally in all cities. “No leniency will be shown—every violator will be fined,” she warned, adding that this was the “final chance” for the traffic police. If they fail to deliver, she cautioned, “we will have to create a new department.”
She said that despite progress in several sectors, traffic chaos persists, and continued violations undermine the writ of the state.
