In Karachi, several welfare organisations, including major ambulance services like Edhi Foundation and Chhipa Foundation, have received more than 50 e‑challans under the city’s digital traffic enforcement system. The fines were reportedly issued to their emergency vehicles despite their critical role in life‑saving operations.
Rescue 1122 Also Received E‑Challans
Not only private welfare ambulances but even government‑linked emergency service vehicles such as Rescue 1122 were penalised under the e‑challan system, according to local media reports. In one noted case, a vehicle was issued a fine despite being on active emergency duty.
Reasons Behind the E‑Challans
Many of the fines were reportedly issued due to violations like seatbelt non‑compliance and other minor infractions detected by automated traffic cameras. In some cases, ambulances parked temporarily while attending to patients were also challaned, sparking widespread concern among organisations and emergency responders.
Public Safety Concerns Raised
Welfare groups and citizens have raised serious concerns about the impact of these fines on emergency response operations. Critics argue that penalising ambulances especially while performing urgent duties could delay critical medical services, putting lives at risk and undermining the very purpose of emergency care in the city.
E‑Challan System and Traffic Enforcement
Pakistan’s e‑challan system, which uses Safe City cameras and automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) to detect traffic violations, has been expanded across major cities to improve road safety and compliance. However, the strict application of this system to emergency vehicles has highlighted gaps in policy exemptions for life‑saving services.
Calls for Policy Review
In response to the backlash, welfare organisations and public advocates are calling on authorities to review and update the e‑challan rules, ensuring that ambulances and other emergency response vehicles are exempted when on active duty. They stress that enforcing fines on such vehicles could negatively affect the overall emergency response framework in Karachi.