Excise and Taxation: New vehicle registration books to be issued from July

New security features being introduced to stop fake transfers, says secy.

LAHORE:

The Excise and Taxation Department will start issuing new registration papers for vehicles with extra security features from next month, said the department secretary.

The department has placed a Rs200 million order for printing the new booklets with the Pakistan Security Printing Corporation (PSPC).

Excise and Taxation Secretary Fawad Hasan Fawad said the initiative was meant to eradicate the drawing up of fake registration documents and transfer forms.

“The new system will provide secure arrangements to deal with the registration of new vehicles and transfer deeds of old,” Fawad said.

He said the new system would be in place across the province from July 1 and all relevant offices had been informed about it.

The department receives regular complaints about fake transfer order (TO) forms and stamp papers being used in the transfer of vehicle ownership, a practice which causes losses of millions of rupees in uncollected fees. “Finding the cheats is not easy owing to the absence of a properly maintained record,” an official said.

The Excise and Taxation Department started issuing computer-generated, one-page ownership booklets in 1996, the official said. The new booklets will be of passport size, with blue booklets for motorcycles and scooters and maroon booklets for cars and heavier vehicles. They will have embossed features and secret security marks, the official said.

The eight-page blue booklet will cost Rs300, while the maroon booklet will cost Rs500. The price of a TO form will be Rs300 and of a transfer sticker Rs200. The department set these prices under the Punjab Motor Vehicle Rules of 1969. The Pakistan Security Printing Corporation will also provide laser light gadgets to check the authenticity of the booklets, TO forms and stickers.

These booklets will be issued at the request of the vehicle owner after they deposit the fee. The official who issues the registration documents must maintain a counter foil signed by an officer of the rank of assistant excise and taxation officer for audit and verification purposes. The fees will be deposited in a revolving fund, spending from which will be reconciled with the Finance Department each quarter in order to prevent misappropriation and embezzlement, the official said.

The department will offer the new booklets in the north, central and south regions of the province from Rawalpindi, Lahore and Multan, respectively. This mechanism will be in operation till the system can be installed in Excise and Taxation offices in all districts.

Published In The Express Tribune, June 21^st, 2012.