The Punjab government is constantly making decisions to improve the traffic system, public safety, and urban mobility. But along with these decisions, citizens of Punjab are also facing new trials. On one hand, there are strict laws; on the other, the economic weakness of the people, the disorder of rickshaws and motorcycles, the broken roads of South Punjab, the unregulated use of electric vehicles, and the worsening crisis of student transportation – all of these are different sides of the same picture. The question is: When will the law become effective? And will public conveniences be included in this process? Or will laws create further difficulties for the people?
Let us first talk about the helmet law. According to the government, traveling without a helmet is unacceptable, and the police have been instructed to strictly enforce this rule. Undoubtedly, this law is necessary for saving lives, but a bitter reality is that a large segment of Punjab’s population cannot afford to buy a helmet. The moment the government made the announcement, helmet sellers raised prices to the sky to earn maximum profit. Shouldn’t government officials also make laws for such profiteers? Inflation has already broken people’s backs – a helmet that cost 1500 rupees must now be bought for 4500. For low-income workers, rickshaw drivers, daily wage laborers, and students, this is a serious burden. When hunger is staring at you, the protection of your head often becomes a secondary concern. The government is enforcing the law, but there is no effective system to understand the hardships of the poor or provide subsidized or low-cost helmets.
Now let’s talk about rickshaw drivers. They already struggle to run their households despite working all day. Fuel is expensive, parts are expensive, fines and paperwork fees are separate – and when the police take action, most rickshaw drivers cannot even pay the penalty. As a result, they either take loans or spend hours pleading on the roadside. The law is necessary, but the economic reality of the poor is an undeniable truth.
Another major aspect of Punjab’s traffic problem is the dilapidated roads of South Punjab. In Bahawalpur, Layyah, Muzaffargarh, Dera Ghazi Khan, Vehari, and Lodhran, countless areas have for years suffered accidents, traffic jams, and excessive vehicle repair costs due to broken roads. Even when the government allocates a budget, instead of repairing neglected areas’ roads and sewerage systems, funds are spent on showy work on already-built roads. Do those involved in swallowing public funds ever face legal punishment or government accountability? On these neglected roads, the repair costs of rickshaws, cars, and motorcycles – punctures, breakdowns, and accidents – keep rising. The government is enforcing stricter laws, but the roads themselves have yet to become as strong as the laws.
Electric rickshaws and electric bikes are becoming both a necessity and a compulsion due to rising inflation. Fuel prices have forced people to turn to e-bikes and e-rickshaws. But profiteers have turned every convenience into a torment due to skyrocketing prices. Shortage of charging points, poor-quality batteries, lack of driver training, and unregulated route planning – these issues are creating a new wave of traffic disorder. The government’s effort to introduce future technology is admirable, but there is still no organized framework for it.
A very important segment of Punjab’s cities is the student population, and their transportation problem is worsening by the day. Universities are far, colleges are overcrowded, buses are few, rickshaws are expensive, and buying a motorcycle is not possible for every student. Many students say they do not wear helmets simply because they cannot afford the additional expense, and the motorcycle is their only means of getting from home to campus. Buses have no space, and waiting for hours still does not guarantee a ride. Ignoring students’ hardships and simply enforcing laws will not solve the problem. Green line services should also be provided to students, college routes should be increased, and every university must expand its transport system – this is the need of the hour.
Another long-standing issue in Punjab’s traffic system is the unequal enforcement of the law. Ordinary people get caught and pay fines, while influential individuals walk away. Rickshaw drivers are stopped, but large vehicles, wagons, and politically-backed transport operators rarely face the same scrutiny. When the law does not provide equal justice, how can people respect it?
The government’s intentions and efforts are right in principle: helmets are necessary, rickshaws must be disciplined, roads must be built, electric transport should be regulated, and students must have safe travel options. But real change will only occur when laws align with the economic realities of the public. There must be concessions and facilities for the poor. South Punjab’s roads must be prioritized, and instead of favoring foreign companies under government patronage, village and city roads should be built according to proper plans. Local politicians and contractors only cause destruction. The transportation budget must be aligned with the budget of the poor.
The truth is that both law and convenience are necessary. If the government enforces strict laws and the public also fulfills its responsibilities, Punjab can become a safe, organized, and modern province in terms of transportation. But if the hardships of the poor, the struggles of students, and the condition of the roads continue to be ignored, then every law will remain nothing more than paperwork.
