Barrister Dr. Saif hails ISO-certified reforms during inspection, pledges inter-departmental push to tackle urban mobility crisis
PESHAWAR: Advisor to the Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Information and Public Relations, Barrister Dr. Muhammad Ali Saif, paid an official visit to the City Traffic Police Headquarters in Peshawar where the Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Mr Haroon Rashid Khan gave a comprehensive briefing on the structure, operations, and reform agenda of the City Traffic Police.
The CTO highlighted the evolution of the department from a conventional enforcement body into a technologically advanced, service-oriented institution aligned with international best practices. Special emphasis was placed on public facilitation, institutional innovation, and efforts to address the growing complexity of traffic in a city that now accommodates over one million vehicles and receives an additional half a million vehicles daily.
Among the department’s most noteworthy achievements is the successful rollout of the E-Ticketing System, operational since 2019 and now fully functional across the province. the system has enhanced transparency, efficiency, and accountability in enforcement. This digitization has significantly reduced manual processes, minimized corruption loopholes, and strengthened real-time traffic data collection.
In line with the government’s digitization and public service agenda, the Computerized Driving License System has also been overhauled. Now fully centralized, the system offers real-time license verification, electronic sign testing, province-wide license renewal, and issuance of international licenses. The department has also introduced on-the-spot card delivery, replacing the previous 7-day waiting period. Notably, Mobile Licensing Units have expanded outreach, offering services at universities, military offices, churches, gurdwaras, rural areas, and public institutions—making the process inclusive and convenient.
Barrister Dr. Saif was also informed regarding the establishment of three new Driving Training Schools under the “Learn With Us to Drive the Right Way” initiative launched in August 2024. These schools, equipped with centralized software for admissions and fee processing, aim to produce safer, better-trained drivers. The upcoming introduction of simulators further reflects the department’s commitment to modern training standards.
Barrister Dr Saif commended the department’s achievement in securing three ISO certifications—ISO 27001:2022 for Information Security Management, and ISO 9001:2015 for both Driving School Operations and Office Administration. These international standards affirm the department’s commitment to quality, security, and continuous improvement.
The CTO Haroon Rashid Khan also briefed Barrister Dr. Saif on several new initiatives recently introduced to address evolving urban mobility needs, including the establishment of two new traffic police stations aimed at enhancing decentralized enforcement, improving resource allocation, and ensuring quicker response times. He also highlighted the launch of a new driving license branch in Hayatabad, designed to ease congestion at existing centers and provide more accessible services to local residents. Additionally, the deployment of modern Traffic Facilitation Booths was showcased, offering on-the-spot services such as learner license processing, challan payments, and real-time traffic updates, along with essential amenities for on-duty personnel including air conditioning and water dispensers. Further, the launch of E-Licenses with QR code-enabled verification now provides citizens with a secure, paperless, and easily portable alternative to traditional licenses. To enhance operational efficiency, 42 patrol vehicles have been equipped with real-time GPS trackers, allowing better field oversight. The department has also activated specialized response squads—including Mobile Emergency Units, Drone Surveillance Teams, Mobile Workshops, and Ambulances—ensuring a 10-minute response time to incidents. Moreover, a newly developed Traffic Count Software enables real-time traffic density analytics, significantly improving planning, monitoring, and enforcement capabilities.
On the educational front, the City Traffic Police has led a robust awareness campaign across the city. Educational institutions, hospitals, and military units have hosted road safety sessions, while FM Radio 88.6, podcasts, and YouTube channels are being actively used to amplify the message. Over 5,000 pamphlets and 2,000 traffic education booklets have been distributed, and large display banners are being installed at key BRT stations to reinforce civic responsibility. Helmet distribution drives, community engagement programs, and the deployment of traffic education volunteers further reflect the department’s commitment to behavioral change and long-term safety.
While commending these achievements, Barrister Dr. Saif also acknowledged the pressing infrastructural and policy challenges brought forward by the department. These include unregistered vehicles, illegal rickshaw manufacturing, limited impound space, absence or malfunction of traffic signals, poorly designed U-turns, lack of parking plazas, bottlenecks, and encroachments on critical routes. The CTO emphasized that although these engineering-related issues fall beyond the direct mandate of the traffic police, the department has held coordination meetings with PDA, TMA, Transport Department, Cantonment Board, and the BRT Authority to jointly seek solutions.
Barrister Dr. Saif assured full government support in addressing these challenges. He emphasized that strategic coordination among all relevant departments would be prioritized to resolve systemic issues affecting mobility and public safety. “The City Traffic Police of Peshawar has emerged as a model for modern, responsive urban policing,” he remarked. “Through digitalization, citizen engagement, and professional excellence, they are setting a new standard for public service in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.”
The visit concluded with a renewed commitment to strengthening institutional capacity, investing in public-facing reforms, and reinforcing the critical role of traffic management in ensuring safe, accessible, and livable cities.