Multiple posts circulating online claim that a new ordinance rolled out by the Punjab government has significantly increased traffic fines, with penalties going up to Rs200,000, along with imprisonment terms for certain violations.The claim is true, though some important details are missing from the viral posts.
Claim
On November 26, a Facebook user shared a graphic with an Urdu caption stating: “Now heavy fines will be imposed for violating traffic laws. According to details, the Punjab law department has issued a new ordinance regarding violations of traffic rules”.According to the post, Punjab’s new traffic ordinance, the Provincial Motor Vehicle Ordinance 2025 (Fourth Amendment), introduces higher fines and stricter penalties for violations, including overspeeding, traffic signal violations, overloading, and smoke-emitting vehicles.The post further claims that fines will now range from Rs2,000 to Rs100,000.
Similar assertions circulated on X and Facebook, with several users expressing doubt that traffic penalties could be increased to such levels.
Fact check
Geo Fact Check examined the claims by consulting official sources, including the Deputy Inspector General of Traffic Police Punjab, a district police spokesperson in Vehari, and the official gazette notification of the Provincial Motor Vehicle Ordinance 2025.The findings show that the claims are mostly correct, although they underestimate the highest possible penalty. While some posts mentioned fines of up to Rs100,000, the revised law allows fines to reach as high as Rs200,000.Waqas Nazir, Deputy Inspector General of Traffic Police Punjab, confirmed to Geo Fact Check through messages that traffic penalties have been revised and that several offences have now been made criminal under the Provincial Motor Vehicle Ordinance 2025, which came into force on November 25.Nazir’s office also provided an official document outlining the updated fines and punishments introduced through the Fourth Amendment to the ordinance.In a separate confirmation, Adnan Tariq, the public relations officer for Vehari district police, told Geo Fact Check that the revised fines have been implemented throughout Punjab since December 1.Previously, under the Provincial Motor Vehicle Ordinance of 1965, traffic fines ranged from Rs200 to a maximum of Rs5,000. Under the new law, penalties now begin at Rs2,000 and can go up to Rs200,000, with jail terms added for certain violations.Separately, one wheeling of a motorcycle now carries up to six months imprisonment or a fine of Rs5,000, while a repeat offence is punishable with up to two years imprisonment or a fine of Rs10,000.
Additionally, any person who sells a vehicle or alters a vehicle in a manner that contravenes this ordinance shall be punishable by up to two years’ imprisonment, a fine of up to Rs 200,000, or both. Verdict: The claim is true. Punjab’s Provincial Motor Vehicle Ordinance (Fourth Amendment) 2025 introduces significantly higher traffic fines ranging from Rs2,000 to Rs200,000, along with stricter penalties and possible jail terms.
