THE Excise Department has apparently decided to replace the motor registration books with smart cards without having informed the public about the change. The books are generally held by people who own old cars whose yearly motor tax is paid in the post office nearest to their respective residences.

The system was working adequately. From July 1, the department has barred the post offices from receiving the motor tax.

Instead, the post offices have started issuing a certificate, stating the period till which the tax has been paid in the post office, and ask the book-holders to take the document to the Excise Department.

This is highly inconvenient for people to stand in line for a long period with scores of others in the scorching heat, first to deposit the book, and then come on some other day to collect the card.

It would have been much more convenient if the department had asked the post offices to receive the books and the applicable fee, indicating when the card would be ready for collection from the post office.

The internal processing could have been done between the Excise Department and the post offices. This would have saved the public from a lot of inconvenience.

Jalaluddin Suhail
Islamabad

Published in Dawn, July 19th, 2021