Sindh Extends Deadline for Ajrak-Themed Number Plates

The Sindh Excise and Taxation Department has officially extended the deadline for the replacement of existing vehicle number plates with the new Ajrak-themed versions. According to an official notification released on Monday, vehicle owners now have until October 31 to comply.

Previously, the provincial administration had mandated that all vehicles must have the new security-featured number plates by August 14.

The notification specified that the extension specifically applies to two-wheeled vehicles, namely motorcycles, following instructions from Sindh Minister for Excise, Taxation & Narcotics Control, Mukesh Kumar Chawla.

The Sindh government’s directive to implement new vehicle number plates has led to considerable inconvenience for the citizens of Karachi, resulting in a surge of penalties, vehicle impoundments, and growing public dissatisfaction.

The Excise Department is currently struggling with a substantial backlog in issuing the updated plates due to a spike in applications, which has caused citizens to gather at offices throughout the city. Delays in issuing the new plates have become commonplace due to slow processing times and insufficient resources.

While the department attempts to manage the backlog, the traffic police have initiated a strict enforcement operation, issuing penalties to vehicles displaying outdated plates.

In the absence of explicit guidance from the Sindh government or the Excise Department, law enforcement has issued fines amounting to millions, along with impounding a significant number of both cars and motorcycles.

The fee for acquiring a new number plate is Rs1,850 for motorcycles and Rs2,450 for cars, which has triggered further condemnation. Individuals argue that they have already paid once and should not be subjected to additional charges.

Many citizens have requested the Excise Department to establish temporary assistance locations throughout the city and manage the procedure in a systematic manner while controlling the alleged overreach of the traffic police.