Lahore has taken a major step toward equal traffic enforcement by abolishing the green signal protocol previously reserved for senior police officers. The new policy states that DIGs, SSPs, and SPs must now stop at traffic signals like ordinary citizens, marking a shift toward fair and transparent road management.
Authorities confirmed that the green signal protocol allowed traffic on adjacent roads to be halted to clear the route for senior officers. With the policy withdrawn, traffic movement will remain uninterrupted, and no lane will be cleared for any officer’s vehicle. A formal message outlining the change has been issued to all circle officers across the city.
Under the new rules, police officers must strictly follow traffic lights, and violations will be penalized immediately. This includes the implementation of e-challans for all government vehicles, including those used by law enforcement officials.
Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Athar Waheed said that e-challan enforcement has intensified under the revised approach. He shared new statistics showing that 1,282 e-challans were recovered from vehicles belonging to 55 different government departments. In addition, action was taken against 204 defaulting government vehicles within 24 hours. He emphasized that strict monitoring will continue to ensure full compliance.
Officials clarified that despite ending the green signal protocol for most officers, limited exceptions may still apply to the Punjab IGP and Lahore CCPO. Special routes may be arranged for them in unusual or high-security situations. However, the broad practice of clearing signals for senior officers has been discontinued.
For years, traffic signals were briefly made free during the movement of high-ranking police officials, often causing congestion for the public. The removal of this privilege is seen as part of a wider initiative to improve traffic flow and promote accountability on Lahore’s roads.
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Authorities believe the decision will strengthen public trust, improve road discipline, and reinforce the message that all citizens, including police officers, are equal under the law.
