KARACHI: Sindh has approved a new policy under which vehicle number plates will be registered to an individual’s CNIC and remain their property even after the sale of a vehicle.
Under the revised system, motorcycles, cars, and larger vehicles will carry number plates linked to the owner’s national identity card. When a vehicle is sold, the seller will retain the plate, while the buyer must register the newly purchased vehicle using their own plate through an online system.
The Excise Department clarified that the legal ownership of number plates rests solely with the CNIC holder. If an individual chooses to surrender their plate, it must be returned to the department and formally cancelled.
Officials say the initiative aims to strengthen registration mechanisms, reduce misuse of vehicles, and curb crimes such as theft and terrorism by ensuring tighter ownership tracking.
To support the policy, federal and provincial governments have linked their vehicle registration databases, allowing centralized verification across Pakistan.
Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah earlier instructed the Excise & Taxation Department to design the CNIC-based framework, carry out testing, and prepare legal amendments. The government emphasized that the system will not be implemented immediately, and follow-up meetings will be held to monitor its rollout after testing is complete.
