Sindh Approves Special Traffic Courts for E-Challan Offenses

The Sindh cabinet has approved a series of key initiatives aimed at improving governance, urban transport, and environmental protection, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said after Tuesday’s cabinet meeting.

In a major step for road safety, the cabinet decided to empower existing consumer courts across the province to function as traffic courts under the new e-challan system.

The decision, however, is subject to Sindh High Court approval. The CM explained that after consultation with the High Court, consumer courts in every district will gain jurisdiction over traffic-related offences.

“Empowering existing courts allows for specialized and fast-track trials of traffic violations without building new judicial infrastructure,” Murad Ali Shah said.

The increasing use of camera-based enforcement under Sindh’s Safe City and traffic policing initiatives has led to a significant rise in e-challans issued across the province. Officials report that tens of thousands of digital citations are now generated monthly, overwhelming the capacity of traditional civil and criminal courts.

Motorists and transport associations have repeatedly raised concerns about the legal enforceability of e-challans, citing the absence of a dedicated judicial framework. Multiple petitions have already been filed in the Sindh High Court, arguing that fines are being levied without a proper avenue for appeals.

The plan is subject to the final approval of the Sindh High Court before the new system can be officially implemented.