Encounters with Dishware Malfunctions
In the bustling city of Karachi, residents are facing delays in receiving new number plates for their vehicles, leading to frustration and inconvenience. The main causes of these hold-ups are a backlog in the excise department's processing facilities and a surge in demand, particularly for motorcycles.
Despite claims by the department that number plates are typically processed within a week, many citizens have reported waiting times stretching beyond a month or more due to the surge in applications and administrative bottlenecks.
Additional factors contributing to these delays include the introduction of mandatory Nadra biometric verification for vehicle owners, which has extended the administrative process and caused confusion between the excise department and traffic police. Furthermore, efforts to curb agent mafias exploiting the registration process, stricter controls, and verification requirements, as well as the requirement for security-enhanced number plates under the Safe City initiative, have added complexity to production and distribution.
To manage the demand, multiple counters have been established in various locations across Karachi, including the Civic Centre, Executive Office Clifton, and Awami Markaz, with plans to expand these services further.
Non-compliance with the rules on vehicle number plates comes with strict consequences. Vehicles using aftermarket or unofficial number plates lacking government security features are subject to challans (fines) or seizure by traffic police. After the final biometric verification deadline (extended to August 14, 2025), failure to complete the process may complicate ownership transfers and result in penalties for both buyers and sellers. Traffic police are driving actions against vehicles without officially issued number plates, although enforcement has temporarily eased during Muharram, with campaigns set to resume after July 15, 2025.
The Sindh government has issued directives for the replacement of old car number plates, but the current deadline for receiving new number plates has not been specified. The delays in delivery are considered highly unjustified, and authorities have been requested to improve their efficiency in issuing new number plates within a reasonable time frame.
It is essential for vehicle owners to ensure they receive their new number plates to avoid penalties and complications in vehicle transactions under the Safe City initiative and excise regulations in Karachi and Sindh.
- The surge in demand for number plates, along with additional factors such as the mandated Nadra biometric verification, stricter controls, and the Safe City initiative's requirement for security-enhanced number plates, are putting pressure on the world's finance and transportation sectors, particularly in Karachi and Sindh, where citizens are experiencing delays in receiving new number plates.
- As the Us industry grapples with increasing global competitiveness, the delays in receiving new number plates in Karachi are highlighting the inefficiencies in the excise department's processing facilities, potentially impacting the economy and business operations, especially those relying on transportation for their operations.
