KARACHI: Not issuing number plates to new bike owners despite receiving registration fees reflects grave misgovernance on the part of the Sindh government, said Sindh Tajir Ittehad (STI) Chairman Sheikh Habib.
He said that not only are new number plates not being issued to applicants, but officials also fail to stamp the registration slip with the remark “number plate not issued.” This, he added, is also a serious case of maladministration. He regretted that the Sindh government first enacts laws and then fails to implement them.
While acknowledging that the e-challan system has limited police powers and reduced chances of corruption, he said that a proper database is essential to further strengthen the system.
Sheikh Habib urged the government to streamline the vehicle registration and number plate issuance system. He said that before enacting new laws, the government should carry out proper groundwork so that citizens are not unnecessarily troubled.-
He said every sector, including the “e-challan” system, is marred by corruption and bad governance. According to official data, more than 93,000 e-challans were issued in one month, with a total fine amount of Rs72 crore. He questioned from whom the government would recover these fines when the vehicle registration system is weak and thousands of motorcycles are running without proper registration.
Sheikh Habib suggested that the registration of any vehicle should be carried out only in the name of its actual owner. He said that fines for violations by bikers should be limited to Rs500 or Rs1,000 during the first year so that low-income people are not excessively burdened. He also demanded a government helmet scheme for bikers.
He said a proper biometric system should be put in place to deter vehicle buying and selling transactions by unknown persons. He also called for a comprehensive monitoring system to update vehicle owners’ data.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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