Citizens deprived of driving licenses as renewal suspended

CHAKDARA: More than 150,000 citizens across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been deprived of driving licenses since April 2024, as the transport authorities have yet to resume the renewal process.

According to details, 5,000 applicants in Upper Dir, 7,200 in Lower Dir, 15,000 in Swat, and 6,000 in Malakand are still waiting for their licenses, while thousands more across other districts face similar delays.

The affected drivers said they had deposited the renewal fees in April 2024 but are still waiting for their licenses despite repeatedly visiting the offices.They complained that traffic police continue to fine them for driving without licenses, while vehicle owners have started terminating drivers for not possessing valid documents.

The drivers said they were tired of running between the district and Peshawar offices, as both departments keep passing the responsibility to each other.They alleged that officials were illegally charging between Rs3,000 and Rs5,000 in the name of license verification, even though they had already paid the official renewal fees, delivery charges, and taxes nearly 18 months ago. Drivers traveling to Punjab have reportedly been heavily fined for not having valid licenses, causing widespread distress among transporters.

The affected drivers demanded that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Transport Authority immediately resume the license issuance process and abolish the so-called verification fee being charged in the name of Peshawar verification.