Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Thursday announced a legal exemption for members of the Sikh community from wearing helmets while riding a motorcycle, citing compliance with their religious obligation to wear a turban. [locally known as dastars].
The announcement, made during a Christmas celebration ceremony in Lahore, comes amid a province-wide traffic crackdown following recent amendments to the Motor Vehicles Ordinance that sharply increased fines and penalties, particularly affecting two-wheeler drivers, who constitute the bulk of Punjab’s road commuters.
رمیش سنگھ اروڑہ صاحب کی بات ہم سب کے دل کی آواز ہے۔ دنیا نے وہ مناظر دیکھے جنہوں نے نام نہاد سیکولر دعووں کی حقیقت عیاں کر دی۔ وہ نقاب کسی بچی سے نہیں، ان کی منافقت سے اتارا گیا۔
ہیلمٹ قانون کا مقصد صرف جان کا تحفظ ہے۔ سکھ برادری کی پگڑی ان کی شناخت اور عقیدہ ہے۔ اسی احترام کے… pic.twitter.com/7E6qbq6h1z– PMLN (@pmln_org) December 25, 2025
The exemption, if officially notified, would constitute an exception to Section 89-A of the Provincial Motor Vehicle Ordinance, which requires the use of protective helmets for motorcyclists.
However, no official notification, amendment or order published in the Official Gazette has yet been issued to operationalize the exemption. As of December 26, 2025, neither the Punjab government nor the Punjab Traffic Police had issued any enforcement guidelines or clarified how eligibility would be checked on the roads.
Read: Sikh biker criticized for not wearing helmet despite exemption
The Punjab Traffic Police launched a strict enforcement drive in the last week of November after amendments to the Motor Vehicles Ordinance, 1965, increased fines and punishment for traffic violations. Thousands of arrests were made and fines worth millions of rupees were imposed, with helmet offenses making up a significant part of the action.
The crackdown sparked a public backlash, with criticism of the hefty fines dominating social media, often in the form of memes. Concerns have also been raised by members of the Sikh community, for whom wearing a turban at all times is a religious obligation, making wearing a helmet impractical.
Addressing the ceremony in the presence of the President of Pakistan, representatives of the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (PSGPC), Federal Minister for Minority Affairs Ramesh Singh Arora and other minority leaders, the Chief Minister presented the move as part of a broader policy on minority rights.
Moments before announcing the exemption, Maryam Nawaz criticized an incident in India in which a Muslim girl’s hijab was removed during a ceremony by a dignitary, calling it emblematic of what she described as “India’s hypocrisy towards secularism.”
She also highlighted the recent measures taken by the Punjab government in favor of minorities, including increasing the quota of the Minority Welfare Card from 75,000 to 100,000 beneficiaries.
No clarity on implementation
Despite widespread media coverage of the chief minister’s remarks, there is still no clarity on the application of the law, including whether Sikh passengers will need documentation, how traffic officers will identify exemptions or when the law will be formally amended.
A Punjab government source said the decision followed multiple interactions between the chief minister and Sikh representatives, adding that the implementation parameters had been discussed and would be announced gradually.
This decision was widely welcomed by members of the Sikh community. Sardar Bishan Singh, a resident of Lahore, called the move a “big decision”, saying the government had shown respect for the cultural and religious significance of the turban.
However, some analysts warn that this exemption could spark wider religious debates, with members of other communities who wear head coverings – such as pagri or ammama – potentially demanding similar treatment.
Learn more: Sikh community exempted from helmet laws in Peshawar
Similar exemptions for Sikh riders have been granted in other jurisdictions. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa allowed such an exemption several years ago, while India also incorporated it into law through amendments. Comparable precedents exist in other regions with significant Sikh populations.
However, the announcement also raised questions about road safety, with critics questioning how the government plans to ensure Sikh drivers are protected in the absence of helmets, particularly amid a crackdown aimed at reducing fatal accidents.
However, until an official notification is issued, the legal status of the exemption remains uncertain, leaving commuters and traffic officers in a gray area.
