In Karachi, ambulances operated by prominent welfare organisations have been issued e-challans amounting to hundreds of thousands of rupees, raising alarm among relief groups. Despite the city’s challenging road conditions and inadequate signage, numerous fines have been levied on emergency vehicles.
Two of Karachi’s largest welfare bodies, the Edhi Foundation and Chhipa Foundation, have collectively been issued more than 50 e-challans. Even the Sindh government’s emergency service, Rescue 1122, was not exempt, with at least one of its vehicles receiving a fine. The majority of these penalties were imposed for not wearing seat belts.
Welfare organisations have strongly protested these fines, highlighting cases such as an ambulance parked in a Clifton service lane while transferring a patient that was still issued an e-challan. They emphasized that many fines were recorded while ambulances were actively transporting patients, with drivers prioritizing timely hospital arrivals.
Officials from these organisations pointed out that internationally, emergency services like ambulances and fire brigades are generally exempt from such penalties. They stressed that during emergencies, drivers focus on saving lives, making strict adherence to regulations like seat belt use or minor speed limits difficult, yet they continue to face these fines.
Additionally, they noted the absence of dedicated emergency lanes in Karachi, recalling that a previously established emergency lane in Saddar was removed within a day. Meanwhile, over 23,000 motorcyclists and car drivers in the city have reportedly concealed their number plates to evade penalties issued through surveillance cameras.
In a significant development, the Director General of Rescue 1122 has instructed drivers to comply strictly with traffic laws. However, welfare organisations have called on the Sindh government and traffic police to reconsider the enforcement of rules on emergency services, urging a more flexible approach given the critical nature of their work.
