Punjab Traffic Police Just Changed Their Uniform Again. Here’s What Drivers Will See on the Road Now

If you’ve been pulled over in Punjab recently, the warden checking your papers may look a little different tomorrow. Punjab Police have rolled out a new uniform for traffic wardens across the province: white shirts and navy blue trousers, replacing the bluish-grey kit they were given just weeks ago.

So, what’s actually changing?

From this week, traffic wardens across Punjab are being issued a fresh uniform. The combination is the same one Lahore introduced last year: a white shirt, navy blue trousers, a navy coat in cooler weather, a blue tie for office staff, and a cap to match.

The Punjab Inspector General has signed off on the procurement of around 12,000 new uniforms for traffic personnel. The tendering process for suppliers is expected to start this week, with the rollout phased in over the current financial year.

Wait, didn’t they just change the uniform?

Yes. In fact, this is the second switch in two months. Back in July 2026, Punjab Police quietly announced that wardens would go back to a bluish-grey uniform, ending the white-and-navy look that had been introduced in Lahore under the previous Chief Traffic Officer, Athar Waheed.

That earlier change was meant to make wardens easier to spot in summer sun and on dusty roads. It didn’t last. By late July, traffic police sources had already confirmed the reverse, and by mid-August the province-wide decision has now been formalised: white shirt, navy trousers, this time for everyone, not just Lahore.

Why is it changing again?

Officially, the goal is a single, recognisable identity for traffic police across Punjab. A warden in Multan should look the same as one in Rawalpindi or Faisalabad, the argument goes, so drivers know exactly who is signalling them to stop.

In practice, the flip-flop has cost the force real money. The 2024-25 set of uniforms was procured under a Rs 5,000-per-officer budget. Wardens were issued the white-and-navy look last year, then told to switch back to bluish-grey, and now told to switch again. Replacement cycles this short are unusual even by Punjab Police’s standards, and procurement officials will be working through the logistics over the coming months.

Will the Highway Patrol uniform change too?

No. The Punjab Highway Patrol, which operates on motorways and inter-city routes, is keeping its current uniform. Only city and district traffic wardens are affected. If you are driving on the M-2 or the M-3, the personnel at toll plazas and check-posts will look the same as they have for the past few years.

What does this mean for everyday drivers?

For most people on the road, very little changes. The new uniform is closer in colour to what a school security guard or a bank officer might wear, which is one reason some drivers struggled to identify wardens during the brief bluish-grey period. The white shirt is meant to fix that.

The same traffic rules still apply. You still need a valid CNIC, a working vehicle documentation and your driving licence when signalled. The fine structure for common violations has not changed. What changes is who is wearing what when they signal you to pull over.

What should you do if you’re unsure a warden is real?

1. Check the shoulder patch. Every Punjab traffic warden carries a numbered ID patch on the shoulder and chest. A real warden’s patch has a serial number you can demand to see.
2. Ask for the beat number and patrolling vehicle. Real wardens are assigned to a specific beat and a specific vehicle. They will give you both without hesitation.
3. Never hand over original documents on the road. You can show them, but originals stay with you. If a person demands your original CNIC, ask for their own ID and call the city traffic police helpline to verify.
4. Pay fines only through official channels. Traffic fines in Punjab are paid through designated bank counters and the official e-challan system, not handed to a warden in cash. Anyone asking for on-the-spot cash is breaking the rules.
5. Pull over at a safe, well-lit spot. If a warden on a motorbike flags you at night, signal and move to the nearest petrol station or lit intersection before stopping.

What’s the wider point here?

Uniform changes in Pakistan tend to grab attention because the people wearing them are the ones who decide whether you pay a fine or get a warning. With this being the third Punjab traffic uniform change in roughly twelve months, drivers are right to be a bit confused. The good news: nothing about how a challan is issued, paid, or contested has changed. The thing changing is the wardrobe.

If you’re renewing your CNIC or sorting out a vehicle-related document this month, plan to carry the right paperwork in case a warden does stop you. The uniform may be new; the rule book isn’t.