Two different announcements about driver health checks in Lahore are being mixed up in conversation, and the confusion matters. One is a working facility from June 2026: free medical fitness counters at government hospitals. The other is a proposal from October 2026: mandatory medical and psychological fitness certificates for drivers. This guide keeps them separate and explains what a driver fitness certificate Lahore actually means today.
Read the June facility as a service you can use now, and the October announcement as a proposed measure whose final enforcement details have not yet been published.
Announcement
Status
June 2026 free counters:
Launched, working facility
October 2026 mandatory tests:
Announced and proposed, not yet a settled law
Who is covered today:
Commercial applicants and applicants over 50
Who the proposal targets:
Commercial drivers, especially renewals
Free Medical Counters at 13 Hospitals
Launched in June 2026: City Traffic Police Lahore launched a free medical fitness certificate facility for driving licence applicants at designated government hospitals across the city.
First phase, 13 hospitals: Dedicated counters were set up in the first phase at 13 government hospitals in Lahore.
Hospitals named: DHQ Hospital Mian Mir, DHQ Hospital Mozang, General Hospital Ghaziabad, Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Sabzazar, Government Hospital Samanabad, Government General Hospital Qila Gujjar Singh, Government General Hospital Shahdara, Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Bilal Ganj, Government Hospital Sodiwal, Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Kahna, Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Raiwind, Government Eye and General Hospital Swami Nagar, and Shalimar.
Free of charge: Citizens can obtain the certificate free of cost from these counters, instead of paying a private doctor or relying on an agent.
Digital verification planned: A proposal was prepared to link the driving licence system with the Health Department’s online system, so hospital-issued certificates can be uploaded directly and verified online, cutting out fake certificates.
Commercial licence applicants: A medical fitness certificate is mandatory for anyone applying for a commercial driving licence, including LTV and HTV categories.
Applicants over 50: Citizens above 50 years of age must also submit a medical fitness certificate when applying for or renewing a licence.
Other applicants: Private licence applicants under 50 are not covered by the same mandatory requirement, so confirm your own case at a licensing centre if you are unsure.
Carry your CNIC: Take your original CNIC to the hospital counter, and keep the issued certificate safe for your licence application.
What the October Announcement Proposes
Announced on 24 October 2026: At a meeting on road safety and smog chaired by Chief Traffic Officer Lahore Syed Abdul Rahim Shirazi, with transporters’ representatives, the city traffic police decided to ensure medical and psychological fitness of drivers.
Certificates like vehicle fitness: The CTO said fitness certificates for drivers will be made mandatory, just like vehicle fitness certificates, to prevent accidents.
Mobile medical camps: Mobile medical camps will be established to conduct medical and psychological examinations of drivers.
Tests proposed: The examinations cover eyesight, colour blindness, night blindness, overall medical fitness and psychological health.
Hospital counters requested: In a later letter, the CTO requested dedicated medical screening counters at Services Hospital and Mian Munshi Hospital, and mobile medical teams at bus stands and transport terminals.
Commercial renewals targeted: The proposal recommends making medical examinations and Criminal Record Office (CRO) verification mandatory for commercial drivers seeking licence renewals, with annual assessments for heavy vehicle drivers.
Not yet a settled law: Reports describe the October measures as announced and proposed. No final enforcement schedule has been published with them, so do not treat them as a fully enforced law yet.
Why the Proposal Came Now
Road safety drive: The measures fall under the “Safe Punjab, Safe Roads” road safety vision, and were discussed alongside smog control.
Recent accidents: Tightened checks on commercial drivers followed a Garhi Shahu accident that killed three members of a family, which brought driver fitness back into focus.
What Drivers Should Do Now
Use the free counters: If you need a certificate for a commercial licence or you are over 50, visit one of the 13 named hospitals instead of paying a private clinic.
Watch for official updates: Wait for an official announcement before assuming the October proposal applies to your licence category or renewal date.
Avoid fake certificates: A certificate bought from an agent risks rejection once digital verification is fully linked, and it can create legal trouble at renewal.
For Lahore drivers, the two announcements must be kept separate. The June 2026 facility is real and usable now: free medical fitness counters at 13 government hospitals for commercial licence applicants and applicants over 50. The October 2026 announcement is a proposal for mandatory medical and psychological fitness certificates, mobile medical camps and CRO checks for commercial renewals, and its final enforcement details are still awaited. Use the free counters today, and wait for an official update before treating the proposal as law.
FAQs
Is a driver fitness certificate mandatory in Lahore now? For commercial licence applicants and applicants over 50, yes, a medical fitness certificate is required. The wider October proposal for all drivers is announced, not yet a settled law.
Where can I get the certificate free? At dedicated counters in 13 designated government hospitals in Lahore, including DHQ Mian Mir, DHQ Mozang, General Hospital Ghaziabad and THQ Sabzazar.
What tests does the October proposal include? Eyesight, colour blindness, night blindness, overall medical fitness and psychological health, through mobile medical camps and hospital counters.
Does the proposal affect licence renewals? It recommends medical examinations and CRO verification for commercial renewals, but final details are awaited.
Can I use a certificate from a private clinic? A hospital-issued certificate from a designated counter is the safe route, because digital verification is being linked to catch fake certificates.
Shahzad Sahil is the editor of plcpunjab.pk, covering Punjab government schemes including the Livestock Card, eligibility, registration and latest updates, with information verified from official sources for readers across Punjab.
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