You got a fast car? I got a fast way to get us a licence

KARACHI: The driving licence offices in Nazimabad, Korangi and Clifton have become “hubs of corruption”, sources unwilling to be named revealed on Wednesday. Employees at these offices have taken to demanding bribes to issue licences, sources said, who added that the people who do not pay, are harassed during the process.

The licence branch in Nazimabad is ahead of the rest in terms of corruption, sources said. While the actual fee for getting a learner’s licence is Rs150, employees at the branch ask for Rs400 to Rs500, while some people are forced to pay around Rs1,000 to get the actual license made, people who were standing outside the Nazimabad branch told Express News.  If someone refuses to pay the bribe, he or she is failed in the four-part driving test, which includes an eye examination, an oral test, a written test and a driving test, they added.

However, some people admitted that they did not object to the easy route to getting a licence, as it was ‘convenient’.

“I applied for my licence through a ‘source’. I paid extra money and did not have to take the tests,” said Zain, a 32-year-old car driver, who added that he had learnt how to drive by becoming a valet and parking cars for people. “I needed a licence to get a job as a driver,” he said.

“I did not want to go through the long process, so I asked a contact at the licence office to help me out,” said a 25-year-old resident of Defence.

The police, however, said that they are taking measures to ensure that corruption at these offices is dealt with a firm hand.

“Action has been taken against 54 corrupt police officers and workers at the licence offices on the complaints of the people within the past two and a half years,” said traffic licence Additional Deputy Inspector General (ADIG) Muhammad Malik. He added that the people who need to get their licences made should first visit the licencing office’s website to figure out the process and should then proceed to obtain their licences accordingly. Those who wish to file complaints should contact the number listed on the website, he said.

Meanwhile, Sindh home minister Dr Zulfiqar Ali Mirza ordered the launch of a new window at the licence-issuing offices where people can lodge their complaints and find answers to their queries. He said that the traffic police website must be made accessible to people so that they can get information on the procedure of getting licences, including fees and other details.

He also asked for a report on the performance of employees at the offices as well as the officials of the Capital City Police, along with details on their postings and progress.

People must only pay the prescribed fees, said Mirza, who warned of strict action against officials who were found to be extorting money.

WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM PPI

Published in The Express Tribune, July 15th, 2010.