Legally driven: DIG allows three months to get driving licences

Those seeking learners’ permit asked to wait two days for separate stations to be set up

KARACHI:

Driving licence DIG Aftab Pathan gave a three-month extension on Tuesday to people who had been driving without licences in the city.

After the traffic police announced a crackdown against illegal drivers on Saturday, the city's three driving licence offices - Korangi, Nazimabad and Clifton - received a sudden rush of people. Since these offices were not equipped to deal with the rush, the police and Rangers were called in to manage the crowds. Eventually, Sindh Home Minister Sohail Anwar Siyal and Sindh IG Ghulam Haider Jamali ordered a one-month extension in the drive.

Traffic DIG Amir Ahmed Shaikh had announced that 15 checkpoints would be set up starting Monday when traffic DSPs and section officers, along with inspectors and sub-inspectors, would be checking licences. The drive was supposed to run from 11am to 1pm and then from 9pm to 11pm.



DIG Shaikh's reader Muhammad Idrees told The Express Tribune that they had already provided 20 traffic police personnel to all three licence branches of the city to manage the onslaught of people. Shaikh insisted it was not his job to issue driving licences and that it was the failure of the licence offices that they have failed to manage such large numbers.

According to him, it was only due to his announcement to send the drivers without licences to jail that people began rushing. "This is a good gesture," he pointed out, assuring that the crackdown will begin after three months.

A total of 195 illegal drivers were, however, arrested on Monday before the drive was extended. Shaikh said that they have been presented before the judicial magistrate.



The rush at the driving licence offices continued on Tuesday but there were no reports of mismanagement.

Anticipating the rush to continue in the coming days, Traffic AIG Khadim Hussain Bhatti has appealed to the applicants applying for learners' licences not to visit the licence branches for two days, as the traffic department is planning to set up 12 stations across the city, where learners' licences can be obtained.  He also said that a mobile van service for learners' licences will also be kicked off soon.

Bhatti also announced that two new driving licence branches will be established in the city soon.

In order to facilitate the large number of applicants at the driving licence branches, DIG Pathan said they had extended their office timings. "The office will also remain open on Saturdays and Sundays," he said, adding that on Sunday, only students will be facilitated, whereas Fridays will be reserved for women and elderly citizens.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 4^th, 2015.