In a significant move aimed at providing relief to vehicle owners in Punjab, the Excise Department has announced a comprehensive overhaul of the process for issuing computerized number plates. This decision comes in response to longstanding complaints from the public and operational challenges faced by authorities, particularly concerning delays in issuing number plates despite collecting fees from approximately three million vehicle owners in the province over the past three years.
The provincial cabinet has approved the abolition of the government’s monopoly on number plate manufacturing, ushering in a new open licensing regime that allows multiple companies and institutions to participate in the production and distribution process. One of the key highlights of this revamped system is the elimination of fees for new computerized number plates, signaling a departure from previous practices and aiming to streamline the registration process while easing financial burdens on vehicle and motorcycle owners.
Excise Director General Faisal Fareed has taken a proactive role in implementing the cabinet’s decision, with a notification issued to Excise Secretary Masood Mukhtar to immediately halt fee collection for number plates with new or duplicate registration requests. This transition to an open licensing regime is expected to foster healthy competition among private companies registered under the new framework, potentially resulting in savings of up to Rs500 on number plates for vehicle owners compared to current government prices.
Despite these positive changes, the department faces challenges in addressing the backlog of pending number plates for millions of citizens, which stems from past inefficiencies. Previous attempts to modernize the vehicle registration system, including partnerships with federal agencies, have encountered obstacles and disputes over fee structures. However, the recent overhaul signifies a step forward in addressing these issues and improving the overall experience for vehicle owners in Punjab.
