Sindh Minister: Only Government-Issued Ajrak Design Number Plates Valid

Sindh’s Excise and Taxation minister Mukesh Kumar Chawla has emphasized the necessity of new car and motorcycle number plates for the success of the Safe City Project. The government-issued security-enhanced plates are essential for the project to be effective. Only number plates issued by Excise offices are considered valid, not those from outside agents or shops. Over 2 million number plates have been issued for vehicles and bikes in Karachi.

The Sindh government introduced these plates in 2011, but faced delays due to stay orders obtained by political parties. The process resumed in 2014 and the contract for manufacturing the plates was awarded to NRTC. The Safe City Project, with 12,000 installed cameras, began in 2018. The new plates feature threads, holograms, and barcodes for security.

The Excise Department has launched three colored plates: white for private vehicles, yellow for commercial, and green for government vehicles. The registration fee is Rs2,450 for vehicles and Rs1,850 for bikes. The department has integrated data with the Police and Traffic Police departments to track tax payments.

Approximately 5 million vehicles and motorcycles exist in Karachi. Around 2 million have been registered since 2023. The department achieved a revenue target of 20 billion rupees in the fiscal year 2024-25. Strict action will be taken against third-party agents, and the public is advised to directly approach Excise offices.

According to the source: Business Recorder.