LAHORE:
Traffic violators who commit repeated traffic violations in Punjab will be auctioned off while government vehicles involved in violating the rules will also face stiff penalties, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz was informed during a meeting on Friday.
Officials informed the chief minister that 20 major changes have been introduced in Punjab’s six-decade-old traffic law.
The government approved a 30-day grace period to eliminate one-way violations and directed the relevant authorities to remodel U-turns to improve road safety. It was also agreed that compensation will be paid immediately to the families of those killed in traffic accidents.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif emphasized that marriage halls will not be allowed to function without proper parking facilities.
Participants approved a province-wide crackdown on underage drivers.
Read more: Punjab rolls out stricter traffic laws
Officials said that in cases of underage driving, the vehicle’s owner could face up to six months in prison.
The Chief Minister ordered a crackdown on buses carrying passengers on rooftops. Relevant officials informed her that to improve traffic flow and ensure public safety, a ban on motorcycle rickshaws will be enforced on five model roads in Lahore.
The chief minister set a 30-day deadline to streamline traffic in Lahore. She said vehicles driving dangerously will face strict action.
Traffic across all cities in the province must be improved, Maryam said, adding that any violator would be fined without any discrimination.
She gave the traffic police one last chance to improve the state of affairs. “If they fail, a new department would be created,” she said, lamenting that when everything else had been fixed why traffic was still in a state of disarray.
She noted that persistent violations and disorder on the roads reflect the weak writings of the state.
