Islamabad Administration Asked to Review Driving License Fees

The Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) has criticized the Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) for sharply increasing driving license fees, saying the revised charges are excessive, lack proper justification, and may have been introduced without legal approval.

In its latest audit report, the AGP said the ITP revised driving license fees in May 2024 after the Chief Commissioner Islamabad amended Rule 26 of the Pakistan Motor Vehicles Rules, 1969.

The audit found that the revised fee structure increased charges by 100 percent to 733.33 percent compared with rates introduced in 2018. It also noted that Islamabad’s fees were 200 percent to 700 percent higher than those charged by the National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP) for similar services.

According to the report, the fee hike imposed an unnecessary financial burden on citizens seeking driving licenses. The AGP said issuing driving licenses is a regulatory responsibility, not a revenue generating activity, and stressed that government institutions should prioritize public welfare over revenue collection.

The audit also questioned the legality of the revised fee structure, stating that the Chief Commissioner amended the rules without obtaining approval from the federal government.

Under the revised schedule, the learner’s permit fee increased from Rs. 300 to Rs. 1,000, while fees for nonprofessional and professional driving licenses rose from Rs. 1,200 to Rs. 3,000 and Rs. 10,000, respectively. Motorcycle driving license fees jumped from Rs. 1,500 to Rs. 10,000, while the digital license card fee increased from Rs. 400 to Rs. 2,000.

The AGP recommended that the Islamabad Capital Territory administration review and rationalize the revised fee structure, align it with actual service delivery costs and comparable organizations, and obtain the required federal government approval. The Islamabad Traffic Police did not respond to the audit observations before the report was finalized.