ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Excise and Taxation Department has fallen short in recovering Rs.11.3 million in traffic fines issued during the fiscal year 2024-25. An official audit report revealed that while challans amounting to Rs.11.33 million were issued for various traffic violations, only Rs.3.31 million has been successfully collected to date.
The report criticized the department’s ineffective monitoring and enforcement mechanisms, emphasizing that the failure to recover these fines has resulted in a significant loss of potential revenue for the national treasury. As a corrective measure, vehicle owners with outstanding fines have had their registrations suspended, and notices have been dispatched to remind them of their dues.
Experts and auditors have recommended integrating the traffic fine recovery process with vehicle registration, transfer, and renewal procedures. This linkage aims to streamline collections and ensure fines are paid promptly.
Furthermore, the audit underscored that the collection of taxes and penalties is legally mandated under the Public Financial Management Act 2019, while fines should also adhere to the provisions of the Punjab Motor Vehicles Ordinance 1965.
The report also highlighted that the inability to recover fines may inadvertently encourage repeat violations of traffic laws, undermining efforts to promote road safety and discipline. It called for stricter enforcement and systematic recovery strategies to prevent revenue leakage and uphold legal compliance.
