Vehicles’ biometric registration restored
Vehicle registration and issuance of license plates would be done during the transaction. PHOTO: FILE
The Department of Excise, Taxation, and Narcotics Control has abolished the old manual system for the registration and transfer of vehicles and motorcycles while re-establishing the new biometric system in all 36 districts including the Rawalpindi division.
On Saturday, the registrations and transfers of those vehicles and motorcycles were done which had been applied under the biometric system, while all citizens including motor dealers and transporters, who came for registration and transfer of vehicles under the old system, were sent back.
The department has made it quite clear that from now, only the biometric system will be used for new car registration and transfer.
The National Database Registration Authority (NADRA)’s Biometric Facilitation Centres located throughout the Rawalpindi division and the office of the Department of Excise and Taxation Office in the garrison city are offering biometric services.
On November 20, 2022, the biometric system was put on hold following the protests and demands of transporters and motor dealers as people were facing problems in getting old vehicles transferred because the complete record of registration of old cars and motorcycles had not been computerised. Due to the non-availability of the computerised record, old vehicles and motorcycles were returned without verification.
Additionally, during these two months, permission was given for the registration and transfer of all the automobiles parked at the showrooms. The biometric system was fully restored after the stipulated period.
When contacted, the excise department’s Motor Branch In-charge informed that 14,000 vehicles and motorbikes have been registered and transferred in the past two months and the department has earned an additional Rs30 million in revenue.
The Motor Branch offices of the Excise Department were open on Friday, January 20, till midnight, and citizens, transporters, and showroom owners were registering and transferring their vehicles.
While the citizens, transporters, and showroom owners who came to the office on Saturday, January 21, for registration and transfer were turned away.
However, a special discount has been announced for hardship cases.
The new buyer will be bound to provide their affidavit on a stamp paper in the event of the most severe sickness. Moreover, the original file for the car and the actual vehicle must be provided to the authorised officer of the office, together with the buyer's biometric verification.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 22nd, 2023.