LAHORE: A major investigation by Lahore Traffic Police has revealed alarming details about commercial drivers operating in the city. Criminal records of more than 2,000 drivers have been discovered, raising serious concerns about passenger safety, particularly for women using online ride-hailing services.
According to Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Lahore Syed Abdul Rahim Shirazi, traffic police examined the criminal backgrounds of 10,000 commercial vehicle drivers. During the verification process, 2,050 drivers were found to have criminal records, with a total of 3,700 cases registered against them.
Following these findings, Lahore Traffic Police has instructed all online taxi and ride-hailing companies to submit complete information on more than 100,000 drivers working through their platforms.
The authorities aim to identify drivers with criminal backgrounds and prevent individuals involved in serious crimes from operating online taxis.
Officials said the initiative is primarily focused on improving passenger security, especially for women who regularly rely on ride-hailing services for transportation.
As part of the new safety measures, ride-hailing companies have also been directed to install dashboard cameras, vehicle tracking systems, and QR-code-based panic buttons in their vehicles. These technologies are expected to help monitor vehicles, improve emergency response, and reduce the risk of criminal activities.
CTO Lahore has warned that strict action will be taken against online taxi services that fail to implement the required safety arrangements.
Traffic police officials believe that driver background verification, combined with modern surveillance technology, will help strengthen public confidence in online transportation services.
The initiative is expected to make commercial transportation safer and ensure that passengers can travel with greater peace of mind.
However, the discovery of thousands of drivers with criminal records has raised an important question about the effectiveness of existing background checks and passenger safety procedures.
Authorities have emphasized that protecting passengers and preventing criminal activities remain their top priorities.