International standards: NHMP licencing office opens doors

Plans to standardise driver’s licences across country.

The inauguration of the new National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP) Drivers Licencing Authority was held at NHMP headquarters here on Wednesday, said a press release.

While inaugurating the new office, State Minister for Communications Abdul Hakeem Baloch noted that every year, thousands of innocent lives are lost due to accidents caused by poor road conditions, poorly maintained vehicles and untrained drivers.

Inspector General of NHMP Zulfiqar Ahmad Cheema said the new system will allow licences to only be issued to those who pass a very elaborate and comprehensive theoretical and practical driving test.

According to Cheema, for the first time in NHMP history, driver licences will be issued to handicapped drivers, overseas Pakistanis and diplomats without any hassle.

There will be around 14 visible and hidden security features in the NHMP driving licence, which is based on globally-accepted criterion and meets international standards.

Security Features

According to Cheema, heavy transport vehicles (HTVs) and public service vehicles (PSVs) will be divided into categories. The categories will be divided based on their loading capacity, number of wheels, and seating capacity.

All information provided by the applicant would be verified through the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and licences would be delivered only by an authorised courier service.

Strict new age and experience conditions will be introduced for HTVs and PSVs to discourage driving of these vehicles by young and inexperienced drivers. NHMP plans to start issuance of drivers’ licences in Islamabad and further expand the initiative to other parts of the country.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 26^th, 2014.