LAHORE: In a significant policy shift, the Punjab government has abolished the centralised production of licenced registration number plates of cars, motorcycles and heavy vehicles etc, allowing the applicants to get them from private vendors.

The traffic police authorities across the province have been directed not to impose fines over the use of privately manufactured number plates.

The Punjab Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Department explained that it has discontinued collecting charges for government-manufactured number plates.

Through an official letter addressed to the Punjab traffic DIG, issued here the other day, the use of the number plates made by private vendors was permitted, as long as the plates strictly match the officially prescribed format.

Privately manufactured registration plates of vehicles allowed; centralised production abolished

“It has been observed by the Punjab Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Department that during the field checking, the traffic officers are asking citizens to display “original” government-issued number plates, in some cases issuing fines on this basis,” reads the letter.

The excise department made it clear to the DIG that it has stopped collecting charges for the issuance of government-manufactured number plates, stating that the centralised manufacturing of licenced number plates has been abolished.

“The department has, however, prescribed a standard Punjab-specific format for the vehicle registration number plates,” the letter says.

It adds that under the current open regime, the citizens can get their number plates manufactured by any private vendor, provided the plates strictly conform to the format approved by the government.

The traffic police authorities have also been asked to ensure compliance with the approved number plate format during the checking on roads.

“The citizens shall not be required to produce “original” government-manufactured plates as the centralised issuance has been discontinued,” states the letter.

It has asked the traffic authorities that no fines and penalties shall be imposed on citizens who display number plates manufactured by private vendors, complying with official format.

A senior excise department officer says the new policy will help people get rid of bureaucratic hurdles and save the time they waste in waiting for the officially-manufactured number plates for their vehicles.

It will also allow people direct access to the number plates without going through the stressful process, he says, adding that decentralisation of the production of number plates and the instructions to the traffic police authorities will provide a great relief to the vehicle owners in the province.

Published in Dawn, February 23rd, 2026