Lahore traffic police crackdown: Rs 5,000 fine for driving without a licence

Driving in Lahore without a licence costs Rs 5,000 for a car and Rs 2,000 for a motorcycle, and this week the City Traffic Police are checking for exactly that. CTO Lahore Syed Abdul Rahim Shirazi has ordered a two-day general hold-up across the city against underage drivers, unlicensed drivers, riders without helmets, one-way violators and motorcycles carrying three people.

Reports differ on the window: one outlet carried the announcement on Sunday 27 September as "today and tomorrow", another on Monday 28 September. Either way, Monday 28 September is a crackdown day, so assume checks are on until at least Tuesday 29 September.

Fines and penalties at a glance

An underage rider's motorcycle is released only when a valid juvenile permit is shown. The CTO also said a learner's permit does not allow anyone to drive or ride alone.

Why now

The police say weekends are when children most often take the family car, motorcycle or rickshaw out on the road, and they link underage driving to serious accidents. The same fines were set out by the Lahore police in late August, and Rawalpindi traffic police ran a similar drive from 15 September, so this is part of a wider push in Punjab rather than a one-off.

Circle officers have been told to supervise the checks in person.

Riding without a licence? Get one at the checkpoint

The police say they will set up special facilitation points outside licensing offices during the hold-up so motorcyclists can apply on the spot instead of only being fined. If you still need to start, our guide to the driving licence in Punjab, Sindh and KP lists the fees and the test, and Punjab's new road-test rule explains the 24-hour window after the e-Sign test.

Already fined? Check and pay

A challan issued in a hold-up can be checked and paid online. Our e-challan check guide for Punjab, Sindh and Islamabad shows the portals and payment methods, and you can confirm your own licence is valid with the DLIMS licence check.

What to do before you go out

• Carry your original driving licence, not a learner's permit.
• Wear a helmet, and make sure the pillion rider does too.
• Keep to two people on a motorcycle.
• Do not let anyone under 18 take the car or bike, even for a short trip.
• Avoid shortcuts against the traffic on one-way roads: a second offence becomes a criminal case.