Lahore traffic police have started legal proceedings against motorists who fail to pay their digital traffic challans, and will issue court summons to those who ignore payment notices for 10 days. The move targets a backlog of nearly 800,000 pending digital challans and seized documents in Lahore, and officials say traffic wardens are now assisting judicial authorities at courts across the city to recover unpaid fines.
Under the existing procedure, a traffic fine doubles if it is not paid within 10 days. After that period, the unpaid challan is forwarded to the court for further proceedings. Police have urged motorists to clear their outstanding e-challans and collect their seized documents through the prescribed legal procedure, rather than ignoring the notices.
What Has Changed in Lahore
Legal proceedings started: Lahore traffic police have begun legal action against motorists who fail to pay digital traffic challans.
Court summons after 10 days: Motorists who ignore payment notices for 10 days will receive court summons.
Wardens at courts: Traffic wardens are assisting judicial authorities at courts across Lahore to facilitate recovery of unpaid fines.
Scale of backlog: Nearly 800,000 pending digital challans and seized documents are reported in Lahore.
Duplicate documents do not clear fines: Some motorists obtained a duplicate identity card or driving licence instead of paying, but reports say the unpaid challan record remains and summons still follow.
Check your pending challans on the official Punjab Safe Cities Authority e-challan portal at echallan.psca.gop.pk using your vehicle number and CNIC or chassis number.
Pay within 10 days of the challan so the fine does not double.
If your challan has already been forwarded to court, follow the court summons and the prescribed legal procedure instead of ignoring it.
After payment, collect any seized documents through the prescribed procedure.
Do not rely on a duplicate CNIC or driving licence to avoid an old fine — the challan record remains attached to the case.
Why This Matters for Lahore Drivers
Higher cost if delayed: Waiting past 10 days doubles the fine before any court process even begins.
Seized documents: Many motorists have left documents uncollected because the increased penalty made recovery unattractive, according to officials.
Compliance drive: The action aims to improve recovery of unpaid fines and compliance with Lahore’s digital traffic enforcement system.
Conclusion
The message from Lahore traffic police is simple: check your e-challans now, pay within 10 days, and do not ignore a payment notice. Once the fine doubles and the case reaches court, a summons follows — and obtaining a duplicate document does not erase the unpaid challan. With nearly 800,000 pending challans and seized documents in the city, drivers who act early avoid the doubled fine and the court process altogether.
FAQs
How long do I have to pay an e-challan in Lahore before the fine doubles?
10 days. If the fine is not paid within 10 days, it doubles.
Shahzad Sahil is the editor of lahorejobs24.com, covering government jobs, private jobs, bank jobs, results and education news for Lahore and Punjab, with information verified from official sources.
