A unique new trend has captured the attention of social media users across Pakistan. A T-shirt printed with a black seatbelt design has gone viral for creating the illusion that the wearer is buckled up. The trend emerged soon after the introduction of the e-challan system in major cities, including Karachi, Lahore, and Faisalabad.

The e-challan system uses advanced surveillance cameras to monitor traffic violations. These violations include driving without wearing a seatbelt, running red lights, and using mobile phones while driving. Offenders are issued fines automatically, which are sent to the registered address of the vehicle owner. The system has been implemented to enhance road safety and reduce accidents.

In Karachi, traffic authorities have already issued dozens of e-challans, including to government vehicles, highlighting the strict enforcement of traffic rules. The sudden implementation and significant penalties have encouraged motorists to explore creative ways to avoid fines. The seatbelt T-shirt has become the most popular of these methods, with users posting videos and photos of themselves wearing it on platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and X.

Many social media users have called the T-shirt a humorous “workaround” to avoid fines, while others praise its creativity. The design, which mimics a real seatbelt, allows the wearer to appear compliant with the law even if they are not actually wearing a seatbelt. Some content creators have taken it further by pairing it with driving videos, making the posts go viral within hours.

Traffic authorities, however, have warned that such tricks are not a replacement for real compliance. Wearing a proper seatbelt remains mandatory. Authorities emphasize that only actual adherence to traffic rules can prevent fines and protect drivers from accidents. The seatbelt T-shirt, they caution, is only a novelty and cannot replace real safety measures.

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