KARACHI: The Sindh cabinet on Thursday approved the launch of a Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC)-based car registration system, following the model introduced earlier in Islamabad.
The decision was taken at a meeting held at the Chief Minister’s House with Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah in the chair. The meeting was attended by provincial ministers, advisers, special assistants, the chief secretary, and relevant secretaries.
According to officials, the system will link car registration directly to the owner’s CNIC rather than the vehicle’s chassis number. Under the new arrangement, owners will be able to retain their personalised registration marks (PRMs) and reuse them after selling their vehicles.
The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) will still be based on the chassis number, which will remain the permanent identifier of the vehicle. However, registration records will be maintained under the owner’s CNIC.
Number Plate Retention
Under the approved model, number plates will belong to the owner. When a vehicle is sold, the plate will be detached from the chassis and may be reassigned to another vehicle owned by the same person. If the plate is not retained, it will be surrendered for auction or reissuance.
Officials said the change aims to simplify the registration process, improve ownership tracking, and reduce fraudulent transfers. The model is in line with recent reforms implemented in the Islamabad Capital Territory and with international practices.
Seized Car Registration
The cabinet also approved a proposal to register seized government vehicles with altered chassis numbers. These include vehicles with cut-and-weld modifications or other tampering.
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) will be introduced for the registration of such vehicles. The move is aimed at bringing confiscated vehicles into the official record and resolving long-standing legal and administrative issues.
Vehicle Fitness Inspection Centres
In another decision, the cabinet gave its approval for the establishment of Vehicle Fitness Inspection Centres across Sindh. These centres will be responsible for ensuring that vehicles meet safety and environmental standards before being cleared for road use.
Officials said the centres will help reduce road accidents caused by unfit vehicles and will play a role in lowering emissions from poorly maintained automobiles.
Legal Amendments
The introduction of the CNIC-based ca registration system will require amendments to the province’s motor vehicle laws. The Sindh Excise Department has been tasked with preparing the necessary legal framework and implementing the new system.
Cabinet members noted that the changes would help align Sindh’s registration process with modern practices and improve record accuracy.
An earlier audit in Karachi uncovered that luxury vehicles worth billions were astonishingly declared at just a few thousand rupees.
