Punjab CM inaugurates smart card for vehicle registration

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar on Tuesday inaugurated smart card for registration of vehicles across the province.

In a tweet on his social media account, Usman Buzdar wrote, “Today I launched smart card for the registration of vehicles. The smart card would not only abolish the traditional vehicle registration books, inhibit fabrication but streamline the whole process of registration.”

Today I launched smart card for the registration of vehicles. The smart card would not only abolish the traditional vehicle registration books, inhibit fabrication but streamline the whole process of registration. pic.twitter.com/zfFGp3hVLL

— Usman Buzdar (@UsmanAKBuzdar) December 18, 2018

Talking to media following the inauguration in Lahore, the Punjab CM said the smart card would be easy to carry and durable in use. All the vehicles registration would be done from now onwards in the form of the smart card, he said adding that this would also end forgery and all the details of taxes could be seen with one swipe of the card.

Read More: Vehicle registration books to be replaced with ‘smart cards’

He apprised that initially around 7-8,000 smart cards would be issued on daily basis. He said the registration cards would be available in Islamabad for Rs1500, in Karachi for Rs700 and in Punjab for Rs520.

This means that no new book would be issued now. Subsequently, motorists will also be issued smart cards instead of registration books, said sources.

This project was planned to be launched in November 2016 and was approved by the then Punjab chief minister in March 2015.

According to reports, the Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Department has been issuing 2 million books annually out of which 1.6 million registration books were issued for newly registered vehicles, whereas 0.4 million were issued for those already registered.

The smart cards will have varied features. Security feature includes guilloche on both sides, pigment printing, metallic emblem, variable UV security printing, secure NFC chip, MRZ, QR code, customized holographic security laminate, micro text, kinetic animation/flip image and customised tactile impression.