Pakistan’s National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP) has tightened enforcement against extreme overspeeding on motorways, including FIR registration, vehicle impoundment, and handover of drivers to local police when recorded speeds cross a defined threshold.
The key point is this: driving above the normal speed limit brings a fine, but driving above 150 km/h can bring a criminal case.
When speeding becomes a criminal case (the 150 km/h threshold)
NHMP’s crackdown focuses on motorists who exceed 150 km/h. In these cases, NHMP has reported getting FIRs registered and taking drivers into custody along with their vehicles, before handing them to local police in the relevant jurisdiction.
In March 2025, Pediastan reported NHMP registered 20 FIRs and made one arrest as the campaign began across major motorway sections.
Within days, APP cited NHMP saying the total had risen to 112 FIRs for motorists exceeding 150 km/h across multiple motorway zones.
Later, the policy was reinforced at the federal level. On October 3, 2025, Communications Minister Abdul Aleem Khan publicly warned that speeding above 150 km/h would trigger criminal proceedings/FIR registration, while lower-level overspeeding would bring fines.
Posted speed limits on Pakistani motorways
NHMP and government statements commonly cite these standard motorway limits for three-lane motorways:
- 120 km/h for private vehicles (cars/jeeps/LTV)
- 110 km/h for public transport vehicles
That means the 150 km/h figure is better understood as an enforcement trigger for FIR/criminal action, not the normal “allowed” limit.
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Latest enforcement updates (2025–2026)
The crackdown began with a handful of high-profile cases. One widely reported incident described NHMP registering what it called its first FIR for overspeeding after a vehicle was allegedly recorded at 173 km/h on the M‑4 near Multan, with the driver handed over to the local police station.
By March 21, 2025, NHMP’s reported FIR count for >150 km/h had reached 112 across different motorway zones.
By October 2025, the government’s messaging became more explicit: fine for exceeding 120 km/h, FIR/criminal case for exceeding 150 km/h.
What happens if you are caught above 150 km/h
NHMP’s public descriptions of the campaign outline a repeatable process.
FIR registration and custody process
When NHMP detects a vehicle above the threshold, officers stop the driver. NHMP then gets an FIR registered through the relevant local police station and may hold the driver in custody until handover to local police.
This matters because an FIR can trigger court proceedings in a way a routine traffic ticket usually does not.
Vehicle impoundment and challan
NHMP has said the campaign also includes vehicle impoundment for extreme overspeeding, and drivers may still receive the normal traffic enforcement actions such as an e‑challan.
Separately, overspeeding penalties had already been tightened earlier. Dawn reported NHMP increased fines for overspeeding in 2023, raising the car/jeep/SUV overspeeding fine to Rs 2,500 from Rs 750.
Why NHMP is cracking down
NHMP and federal officials have tied the crackdown to road safety. At very high speeds, stopping distance rises fast, crash forces increase, and small steering inputs can become lethal—especially on busy intercity corridors with mixed traffic behavior.
The enforcement approach aims to push behavior change by making “extreme speeding” costly not only in money, but also in time and legal risk.
Safe motorway driving tips
- Treat 120 km/h as the practical ceiling on most Pakistani motorways unless posted otherwise.
- Avoid “racing” behavior, even briefly. Enforcement focuses on extreme bursts above 150 km/h.
- Watch for lower limits in specific stretches (construction, fog, curves), and obey lane discipline.
- If stopped, cooperate and document the interaction through lawful means, then follow the legal process.