The Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) has criticised the Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) over increased driving license fees. The audit said the revised charges appear excessive and lack proper justification.
The report also questioned whether authorities introduced the new fee structure with proper legal approval. Consequently, the AGP recommended a comprehensive review.
Audit Questions Legality Of Fee Increase
According to the latest audit report, the ITP revised driving license fees in May 2024. The changes followed amendments to Rule 26 of the Pakistan Motor Vehicles Rules, 1969.
The Chief Commissioner Islamabad approved the amendments before the revised fees took effect. However, the AGP questioned whether the required federal government approval was obtained.
The audit found that the revised charges increased by 100% to 733.33% compared with 2018 rates. Moreover, Islamabad’s fees were 200% to 700% higher than those charged by the National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP) for similar services.
AGP Recommends Rationalising Revised Charges
The AGP said the fee increase placed an unnecessary financial burden on citizens seeking driving licenses. It added that issuing licenses is a regulatory function rather than a revenue-generating activity.
Therefore, the report urged government institutions to prioritise public welfare over revenue collection. It also recommended aligning the fee structure with actual service delivery costs.
Under the revised schedule, the learner’s permit fee increased from Rs. 300 to Rs. 1,000. Meanwhile, non-professional and professional license fees rose to Rs. 3,000 and Rs. 10,000, respectively.
Motorcycle driving license fees increased from Rs. 1,500 to Rs. 10,000. Additionally, the digital license card fee rose from Rs. 400 to Rs. 2,000.
The AGP recommended that the Islamabad Capital Territory administration review the revised fees and secure federal approval. However, the Islamabad Traffic Police did not respond before the audit report was finalised.
