Pindi launches smart vehicle registration card

Excise department streamlines process for collecting tax on car and bike registrations

RAWALPINDI:

The Department of Excise Taxation and Narcotics Control has upgraded to a new smart computerised card system which will officially launch computerised number plates.

The Excise department has upgraded its system of preparing smart computerised cards to register new vehicles and motorcycles. As a result, the backlog of last three months has been cleared, leaving only one month's worth of smart card registrations pending. These belong to the registrations that were applied for during the period of June 15 to July 20.

From July 1, a computerised smart card system for registration has become mandatory for a fee of Rs1,300. While the validity of smart cards has been increased to one month. The smart cards, manufactured in a special plant in Lahore, will be sent directly to owners at their provided address through Pakistan Post. Currently, 14,619 smart cards for car and motorcycle owners in Rawalpindi district are being prepared.

However, most recently, the production of computerised number plates has been discontinued due to public complaints about the poor quality of materials used. Vehicle and motorcycle owners have resorted to obtaining number plates from the open market.

During the department’s director's conference, strict instructions were issued to the motor and excise branches to make tax collections mandatory by setting quarterly targets at the beginning of the new financial year. The motor branch has been given a quarterly tax target of Rs1 billion.

Formal notices have been issued for the submission of Property Tax, Luxury Tax and Commercial Property Tax for all six districts of Rawalpindi Division.

The notices offer a special discount of 5% on property tax for taxpayers who submit their full tax payment for the first quarter (July 1 to September 30). Additionally, a 7% discount will be given to taxpayers who submit their taxes through the online e-system. Notably, the tax for every taxpayer has been increased by 10% in all new property tax notices.

Director General Excise has ordered all inspectors and field staff to go to the field, door to door and market to collect taxes.