Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has announced an exemption for the Sikh community from the motorcycle helmet law and approved an increase in minority cards from 75,000 to 100,000.
Speaking at a Christmas ceremony on Thursday, the chief minister said, “The government has exempted Sikh riders from wearing helmets because of the religious requirement to wear turbans, which makes helmet use difficult.”
“Punjab stands committed to protecting minorities. Their safety is a key measure of our government’s success,” she said.
She warned that the state would respond firmly to any attempt to harm minorities or deprive them of their rights. “Making Punjab minority-friendly should be a shared goal for all citizens. The responsibility is greater for the majority community,” she added.
Addressing the Christian community, the chief minister extended Christmas greetings and announced the expansion of the minority card program to benefit more families.
She said, “The province marked Christmas by decorating cities, displaying festive messages, and installing large Christmas decorations, including a Christmas tree and Santa Claus display at Liberty Chowk.”
The helmet exemption addresses a long-standing concern within the Sikh community, where religious practice conflicts with traffic safety regulations.
The expansion of minority cards will provide additional financial and social support to 25,000 more families across Punjab.
The announcement comes amid a strict helmet crackdown, where bike riders face a fine of Rs 2,000 for riding without a helmet. The updated penalty system became effective from December 1, 2025, with authorities issuing 28,000 helmet violation challans in a single day during the crackdown.