Traffic wardens in Gujranwala are now being equipped with body-worn cameras in a bid to increase transparency and reduce disputes with motorists.
The initiative, launched under directives from the Punjab government, is part of a broader effort to modernise traffic enforcement in the city. Around 100 wardens working at major intersections, checkpoints, and busy corridors have received the devices, which record both audio and video during traffic stops and enforcement activities.
City Police Officer Dr Ghayas Gul Khan and Chief Traffic Officer Ayesha Butt formally rolled out the project, emphasising that the cameras will create clear, verifiable records of interactions between drivers and traffic officers.
Gujranwala, which already operates under a Safe City framework, uses e-challan systems to track violations via surveillance cameras. The addition of wearable bodycams provides ground-level evidence and strengthens enforcement, signalling a move toward technology-driven traffic management that other cities may soon adopt.
Two challans for single violation in Rawalpindi
Meanwhile, road users in Rawalpindi have raised concerns over what they describe as a “double-challan” system. Drivers are reportedly being fined twice for the same traffic violation: once by a traffic warden and again by the automated Safe City cameras.
Motorists have publicly criticised the practice, calling it unfair and financially burdensome.
Officials have defended the system, noting that the automated cameras function independently of traffic police, and failure to pay both fines could lead to vehicle impoundment.
Local legal voices are joining the debate. Advocate Tariq Mahmood Sajid Awan, President of the Rawalpindi District Bar Association, confirmed that lawyers will meet city traffic officials, the City Traffic Police, and the Deputy Commissioner this week to push for reforms that are more citizen-friendly.
Commuters are calling for practical changes, including clearer procedures to challenge fines, an end to redundant penalties, and enforcement that focuses on road safety rather than revenue collection.
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