Police officers control traffic on a street amid heavy smog conditions in Lahore on November 14, 2019. (Photo by Arif ALI / AFP) (Photo by ARIF ALI/AFP via Getty Images)
Traffic police personnel across Rawalpindi are reportedly under mounting pressure as the department has enforced a strict policy requiring each warden to issue a minimum of 10 challans per day, sources said. Those failing to meet the quota have been served show-cause notices for “poor performance.”
According to a document obtained by this scribe, an internal performance list dated 2nd December 2025 flagged over 120 officials from various sectors and circles for issuing fewer than the required number of challans.
The list includes traffic wardens from major zones such as Murree Road, Old Airport, Dhoke Syedan, Adiala, Saddar, Mehrabad, Gujar Khan, New Town, Kallar, Pirwadhai, New Airport, Sadiqabad, City, Taxila, and Civil Lines. Many of the wardens recorded between one and eight challans during the review period.
Citizens remarked that traffic policing should not be reduced to a numbers game. Managing traffic flow, guiding commuters, handling road emergencies, and ensuring safety are tasks that often leave little room to focus solely on issuing challans.
Sometimes, traffic wardens spend hours helping commuters, clearing bottlenecks, or dealing with accidents, but the administration only counts the number of challans when evaluating performance. Citizens believe that the quota system may indirectly encourage unnecessary or forced challans, which eventually harm public trust.
Public feedback on the issue has been mixed. While citizens agree that strict traffic enforcement is necessary, many believe that setting numerical targets for fines creates an unhealthy environment for both the public and the police. Analysts suggest that the policy may require reconsideration to balance enforcement with fairness.