Lahore: Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Syed Abdul Raheem Shirazi proposed a comprehensive mechanism for recovering pending digital traffic challans by linking clearance of outstanding fines with selected government services.
According to a formal communication sent to DIG Traffic Punjab and the Punjab Information Technology Department (PITB), the proposed mechanism was aimed at strengthening enforcement and improving recovery of outstanding digital challans.
The communication stated that the Digital One App currently provided complete details of pending e-challans along with their PSIDs. It proposed incorporating a similar facility into the application for displaying pending digital challans, payment details and recovery status.
The CTO proposed that, similar to the mechanism applicable to e-challan defaulters, certain services at Police Khidmat Markaz should also be linked with clearance of outstanding digital challans.
The proposal further suggested linking issuance, renewal, modification and issuance of duplicate Computerised National Identity Cards (CNICs) for digital challan defaulters with clearance of outstanding traffic fines.
Similarly, issuance and renewal of passports were proposed to be made conditional upon clearance of outstanding e-challans and digital challans.
The CTO also proposed linking vehicle transfer, sale and purchase transactions with clearance of outstanding e-challans and digital challans.
The communication noted that some citizens receiving digital challans opted to obtain new identity documents or complete other documentation without clearing outstanding fines, which adversely affected recovery of pending challans.
Shirazi said effective recovery of pending digital challans would strengthen the enforcement mechanism and discourage habitual traffic violators from repeatedly violating traffic rules.
He said timely recovery of outstanding digital challans would also help expedite disposal of cases pending before competent courts, increase government revenue and reduce the administrative effort and expenditure involved in recovering outstanding fines.
The CTO further proposed that complete details of all pending digital challans, along with relevant payment information, be incorporated into the Digital One App so that citizens could easily view their outstanding fines and clear them in a timely manner.
