Surge in citizens applying for driving licences after government warns of impounding vehicles

As Karachi witnessing a rise in traffic violations in 2024, the citizens’ lack of interest in getting driving licences alarmed the police.

Driving Licence Branch DIG Iqbal Dara told Jang that the trend of getting driving licences in Karachi decreased in 2024 compared to 2023. According to the data, the number of permanent driving licences issued in 2024 was 22,084 less than that of the previous year.

A total of 330,027 citizens got permanent driving licences in 2023, while 280,943 driving licences were issued in 2024. In 2023, 282,385 learner driving licences were issued compared to 285,384 training licences in 2024. The international driving permits also increased in 2024 as 22,813 international driving permits were issued in 2023 and 26,553 in 2024.

DIG Dara said that in 2023, driving licences were issued under the old system but in 2024, the driving licence branches in Sindh were modernised. He maintained that corruption was eliminated to the utmost extent and the system made transparent as all the branches were equipped with CCTV cameras and their operations were digitised.

Now driving licences can be applied online from Sindh by the Pakistanis all over the world. Citizens can get online learner licences in any country or any city. Sindh licence holders can also renew their licences online, said DIG Dara.

The officer explained that as the government announced action against those driving vehicles without licences and warned that their vehicles would be impounded, a large number of citizens had started coming to the driving licence offices to get licenses. There was currently an unusual rush of citizens at the driving licence branches and the number of people getting driving licences had doubled in a week, he said.