Excise dept set to launch new mobile application

Users will receive instant verifications for vehicles

LAHORE: If motor vehicle verification was cumbersome in the past, it won’t be anymore. The Punjab Excise and Taxation Department is all set to launch a mobile application to simplify the process of vehicle verification.

The new mobile software will enable owners to receive an instant and certified verification of vehicle registration and tax details, which is an important step in the transfer of ownership process.

In addition to the on-screen verification, users will also receive printable certificates of the record. According to details, consumers will be able to pay for the verification online, using their credit cards.

Currently, buyers can verify vehicle details on the department’s online portal. However, the details provided on the website are limited and also have no legal value.

“The new mobile application will provide information that will not only be verifiable but also will be legally valid and acceptable at the department,” said Director General Excise and Taxation, Punjab Suhail Shahzad.  “The application will issue certified data,” he added.

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According to a survey conducted by the department, there are several online portals that offer verification services. Some portals even charge customers for the service. However, this information is neither certified nor accepted by the excise and taxation department.

The Punjab Information Technology Board is developing the application. The initial registration will be free. To simplify the process for the users, the application will have the ability to bill the mobile service account. The software will provide a detailed report about the vehicle’s ownership and tax status, without revealing the owner’s details. “The application will not reveal the mobile number and address of the owner,” said one official. The data provided by the mobile application, the official said, will also have details of any police reports related to the vehicle.

“The application will provide information about first information reports (F.I.R.) related to the car,” he said. The printable document generated by the application will provide details of the number of owners, engine number and other information that relates to the vehicle.

According to details, the provincial excise and taxation department has also decided to create a centralized control room at the Shadman office to ensure users have a dedicated unit to address issues.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 6^th, 2020.