LAHORE - City traffic police department has formally launched digital ticketing system to facilitate motorists caught on roads for violation of safety rules.

Officials say the first of its kind initiative will replace manual challan books. The drivers caught for violation of traffic laws will also be able to pay the fine amount on-the-spot instead of visiting nearby banks.

Capital city police officer Muhammad Amin Wains inaugurated the initiative during a ceremony held at Al-Hamra Hall on Friday. Chairman Punjab Information Technology Board Dr Umer Saif, DIG Dr Moeen and Chief Traffic Officer Rai Ejaz Ahmad were also present on this occasion besides a large number of traffic officers.

While addressing participants of the ceremony, Lahore CCPO Amin Wains said that the IT initiatives introduced in different police departments brought transparency and improved working of the officials. He told traffic wardens, “This is our prime duty to facilitate public on roads. Being traffic wardens, this is your prime duty to behave public always with good mood,” he said.

Chief Traffic Officer Rai Ejaz Ahmad said the digital ticketing system would help police maintain database of violators of traffic laws.

“This system will also help us make KPIs for traffic wardens, mange traffic load and solve some 1.6 million challan cases pending for the last ten years.

As part of the digital-challaning scheme, hundreds of smart machines called POS (point of sale) were provided to the traffic officers in Lahore. Some additional features are added in the latest machines having android based application including biometric attendance and wireless communication, an official said.

The motorists will be able to pay the fine amount by using multiple electronic sources including credit cards, ATM cards, and mobile phone cards.

Before this, the fine payment procedure was lengthy and complicated. Citizens were bound to deposit the fine amount to a few designated bank branches to get back registration books of vehicles, driving licences, or ID cards. Traffic officers routinely seize registration books or driving licenses after issuing challan tickets to the drivers.

Now, motorists will be using their swipe cards to be able to pay the fine amount on the spot.

According to SSP Rai Ejaz Ahmad, the e-ticketing system will help citizens and traffic officers in many ways. Simply, this has replaced manual books. Now the ticketing and payments will be made online, he said. “This will help us ensure accuracy and transparency.”

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