Driving licences valid in Gulf states to be issued: minister

E-Paper | October 23, 2026

Driving licences valid in Gulf states to be issued: minister

The Newspaper's Staff Reporter Published July 30, 2019

The Federal Minister for Communications and Postal Services, Murad Saeed, has said that an authority will be set up to issue driving licences which will also be valid in the Gulf states. — Photo courtesy Murad Saeed Twitter

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Minister for Communications and Postal Services, Murad Saeed, has said that an authority will be set up to issue driving licences which will also be valid in the Gulf states.

While launching the e-billing system in the National Highway Authority (NHA) here on Monday, he said a delegation will leave for Dubai in a week or so for signing a memorandum of understanding with the UAE authorities on acceptance of Pakistani driving licences in the Gulf states The minister said he had read in a news report that the UAE government had inked a similar agreement with another country.

“Obtaining a driving licence in the UAE is a gigantic task, but once the agreement is signed our drivers holding the local driving licence will have more job opportunities in the Gulf states as they will have no need to get another licence there,” he added.

He said offices of the driving licence authority will be established all over the country.

The minister said the NHA would place on its website details of assets, period of service, penalties, posting/transfers and other details of its employees to ensure transparency and accountability.

Mr Saeed said the e-billing system had been introduced for the first time in the NHA for payment of billions of rupees to its contractors in order to end corruption.

He said the system would ensure transparency and speedy processing of bills. “This will ultimately help in checking corruption besides saving time by 50 per cent. Launching of e-billing is a step forward taken by the ministry of communications towards controlling corruption,” he added.

A briefing was given about the working of e-billing system and it was informed that the contractor will submit his bill at NHA e-billing portal and a consultant will verify/certify it. Then the finance wing will process and give approval for payment to the contractor.

Later, the minister told newsmen that the e-billing system was developed by the NHA by using its own expertise and resources.

Published in Dawn, July 30th, 2019

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adnan rao

Jul 30, 2019 08:57am

once done , I think this will be game changer for Pakistanis in UAE.

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Afi

Jul 30, 2019 10:10am

Can the minister also review and simplify the process of issuing a Pakistani Driving License to non-resident Pakistanis who don't have a Pakistani license, are returning to the country after a long time and have a valid license issued in the Gulf?

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Jalbani Baloch

Jul 30, 2019 10:13am

Mr. Minister, in Pakistan getting a driving license is not a gigantic task, as rightly pointed out, as compared to Dubai or any other Gulf State. In Pakistan, a real case was dramatized on famous Pakistani channel, where Traffic Police Authorities in Karachi issued driving license to a physically blind person. Such kind of bad things earn bad reputation for the country, and it gives the reason to other countries to apply strict regulations on Pakistani expatriates. Mr. Minister, first it is better to bring transparency in traffic police and restore the public faith in it, before you take up the matter with the UAE authorities to accept Pakistani Driving License, which still seems to be a distant dream.

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Natarajan

Jul 30, 2019 10:39am

How is it possible? One has to go through a driving school in UAE or elsewhere as people drive on the right hand side. It is a marathon task to get a licence in the Gulf unless one holds American or European licences.

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HisMaster'sVoice

Jul 30, 2019 10:40am

Excellent. These kind of developments were never thought of by the corrupt past leaders. They wasted time building highways in Pakistan, but did not know we are more interested in driving on highways in the Gulf! Now we are on the right track, pun intended!

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Hammad

Jul 30, 2019 10:43am

It should be possible for Europe as well

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Reader

Jul 30, 2019 10:43am

Then put great check on the e-billing portal consultant because he will ask for bribes. Rooting out bribe from office culture of Pakistan is an almost impossible task.

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Reader

Jul 30, 2019 10:45am

Also, I do not think UAE should allow such a thing to happen considering how easy it can be to get a license through bribe and/or reference in Pakistan. We need to put our house in order first before expecting leniency from foreign countries.

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Umair Khan

Jul 30, 2019 10:50am

Overseas pakistanis having international lisences from gulf etc. Should be given pak driving lisences on paying fees at nadra or designated trafic police stations .

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SHAHID SATTAR

Jul 30, 2019 11:11am

For how much inside the sealed envelope for the officers concerned, excluding the official fees?

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Shah

Jul 30, 2019 11:29am

The more e-billing = the less face-factor = the less corruption.

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Mahmood

Jul 30, 2019 11:53am

Out of some 1 million+ Pakistani expats who work and live in the Gulf states, perhaps only 10% earn enough to be able to afford to buy a car in these countries. Though still a good move to save them the hassle and added cost of acquiring local driver's licenses.

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Realist

Jul 30, 2019 11:56am

How can a not-yet-signed MoU with UAE, reflects the approval of all GCC countries? False Hopes. Speaking before Finalizing.

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Imtiaz

Jul 30, 2019 12:01pm

Majority of licences for driving in Pakistan are issued without a high standard driving test. Gulf countries would be foolish to take Pakistan driving licences as those belonging to competent drivers.

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Prince Ahmed

Jul 30, 2019 12:22pm

Good initiative....keep up the work and Pakistan Zindabad!!!!

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Jul 30, 2019 12:30pm

Is he living in a fool's paradise? At least in the six G.C.C. oil and gas rich countries, driver's licences stemming from South Asian countries in general and other Middle Eastern and African countries in particular, based on ground realities, will neither be accepted nor converted without a stringent road test and a very hard oral test, which atleast 95 percent of the applicants fail on their first attempt.

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Bif

Jul 30, 2019 12:40pm

You need visa to dubai first before you can drive there

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Ranjha

Jul 30, 2019 01:13pm

Way to go Murad Saeed!

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Emp

Jul 30, 2019 01:33pm

Very very good step increased job opportunities > higher remittances > reduction in foreign debt. Great initiative

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Asif Raza

Jul 30, 2019 01:52pm

First validate the UAE based issued license in Pakistan to facilitate overseas-returned Pakistanis before dreaming UAE to accept Pakistani licenses.

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Abdul Bais

Jul 30, 2019 02:12pm

@Realist, Remember the promise of bring $200B back to the country?

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Habib khan

Jul 30, 2019 02:42pm

According to honorable IK，people will come to Pakistan for jobs. So make the traffic police department a model so that the UAE delegate come to Pakistan to accept their driving licenses here..

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Humble Citizen

Jul 30, 2019 03:07pm

This will increase accident ratio in gulf states given the crooked system in Pakistan for issuing license cards. Unless you have high connections it is impossible to get license by fair means however good you are at driving. I have observed that in KPK.

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Rouge

Jul 30, 2019 03:52pm

Won’t happen. UAE has a structured program & it is a very lucrative business for them.

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zeeshandxb

Jul 30, 2019 04:07pm

Guys lets not jump the gun here. The driving in UAE is very organized and different from driving in Pakistan. Without training of pakistani drivers prior to conversion of license it can be an accident waiting to happen on dubai roads.

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Philosopher (from Japan)

Jul 30, 2019 04:37pm

Looks like this government is working only for the benefits of expats who are maximum 0.25 percent of the whole population I guess.

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mansoor

Jul 30, 2019 05:39pm

Roads in civilised counties speak. The amount of paint on those roads is what makes driving safe. Can our drivers read and understand what the roads are informing? With hardly any work done on roads signs in Pakland I can guarantee all Pakistan driving license holders would have to do the test again. Failing governments gimmick to look busy as if they are doing what they are supposed to do.

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zeeshan

Jul 30, 2019 05:57pm

isn't he the same fraud that watelling Khan will bring $200 Billion on first day after selection.. and he will through $100 billion to IMF and $100 billion for youths scholarships?

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saksci

Jul 30, 2019 06:21pm

This means that to get driver license one should able to read and write. Please test how many drivers in Karachi could read or understand road sign.

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Ehsan

Jul 30, 2019 06:22pm

The traffic office in Islamabad has set up, where everything is done almost paperless, there is an on-site eye doctor, and the staff is very courteous and helpful.

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Iqbal Hadi Zaidi

Jul 30, 2019 06:32pm

I oppose the move to issue a driving licence in Pakistani which allows Pakistanis to drive in Gulf countries as well. Our honorable minister must know that Gulf does not mean UAE only as there are many other countries also in Gulf and I challenge if Dubai accepts Pakistani driving license then it will be accepted by Qatar and Kuwait as well. Secondly in Pakistan one cay pay money and get license even without knowing ABC of driving so if he drives in Dubai he will hit right ad left and may even be knocked down in a minute or two. Moreover in Gulf traffic is too fast and heavy which not each Pakistani can cope up unless he has been in Gulf for some time. It is very rare that a driver passes driving test in 1st attempt in Kuwait and if the driver who gets a new license and meets an accident in 3 months time then his license can be withdrawn and cancelled. Iqbal Hadi Zaidi / Kuwait

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Asef

Jul 30, 2019 06:34pm

I guess before signing that agreement you should fix the process of obtaining a driving license in Pakistan where you can pay 1000-2000 to obtain medical test and pay 2000-3000 to obtain license without even showing up for driving trial.

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shan

Jul 30, 2019 06:47pm

Unless Pakistan will introduce a strict and comprehensive driving testing programme, I believe this initiative may not last long.

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Shivaprakash

Jul 30, 2019 07:08pm

Pak drivers have bright career in saudia as thy hav announced all other lower post will have filled by their citizens .

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Shivaprakash

Jul 30, 2019 07:09pm

@adnan rao, Game changers pak hs largest pool of drivers and cleaners and all other things catered by other emigrants.

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Shivaprakash

Jul 30, 2019 07:11pm

@Jalbani Baloch, This is another way of flinching money .

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Shivaprakash

Jul 30, 2019 07:28pm

@Mahmood, Common it is for driving for others.IK govt never thinks anything bt driving after having driven MBS and quatar prince. This is highest skill deveopment thy can think off. ALSO THOSE WHO FAIL SHOULD BE GIVEN CLEANER training.

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Shivaprakash

Jul 30, 2019 07:33pm

@Realist, This is feature of PTI govt. They have mastered art of u turn Thy can postpone at will and IMF loan Then half finish. Remember largest oil mine KEKRA This a minor .

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Shivaprakash

Jul 30, 2019 07:35pm

@Imtiaz , Ik will beg this countries to accept based on pak licence. All will b promoted to cleaners

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Shivaprakash

Jul 30, 2019 07:40pm

@Bif, That is side issue.considering talent of drivers.

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Syed A. Mateen

Jul 30, 2019 07:44pm

Every country has its own rules while issuing driving licenses and UAE is not similar country like Pakistan. The driving lanes made on the roads in UAE are totally opposite from driving lanes made on roads in Pakistan. In Pakistan its right hand drive and in UAE its left hand drive. I have not seen a single car in any of seven emirates of UAE where any one is driving car which has steering wheel on right hand side. Before going to UAE for employment, people make International Driving License from Pakistan and on the basis of IDL they apply for local driving license in UAE. To clear UAE driving license test it is not so easy as it is in Pakistan. It will be better for Federal Minister for Communications and Postal Services Murad Saeed to update information before giving such statements. The system of managing traffic on roads in Pakistan is of third world countries, whereas in UAE people don't break driving rules at any cost whether the traffic police is seen on the roads or not.

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Akber

Jul 30, 2019 08:36pm

People who have obtained their driving license in any Gulf country knows first hand how tough it is to get one. There is no way it can be interchanged with a Pakistani license. This is another stunt like bringing back billions of US $, absolutely rubbish.

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memon

Jul 30, 2019 09:56pm

we know how driving licenses are being obtained in Pakistan. in developed countries, individual has to take proper driving classes, follow traffic rules, get practical training before driving test to obtain driving license. So first and foremost, driving license issuing system need improvement in Pakistan in a letter and sprit..

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Sree

Jul 31, 2019 07:35pm

@Mahmood, No it's s very good move as Pakistanis can get job as drivers. & instructors(with additional exam) I learned driving from a school run by Pakistani. And teacher was very good.

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