LAHORE: Punjab Excise & Taxation Department is all set to launch a modern system under which each vehicle’s registration number will be directly linked to the owner’s computerised national identity card (CNIC).

Under this new system, in the event of a vehicle’s sale, the previous owner will be able to retain the registration number, while the buyer of the used vehicle will be allotted a new registration number by the Motor Registering Authority. The unused registration numbers can be reserved for up to two years. However, in case of a one-month delay in application for the issuance of the registration, an additional fee will be charged.

According to a spokesperson for the department, the public is advised to immediately transfer vehicles into their own names, as an additional transfer fee will be applicable from September 1 on wards. If a person has already sold a vehicle but the buyer has not yet transferred it into their own name, they are instructed to inform the helpline 1035 immediately so that the vehicle’s registration may be suspended and any potential inconvenience avoided.

He says that the implementation of the new system will not only enhance the public confidence in retaining personal registration numbers, but also help in traffic management and security operations by the law enforcement agencies (LEAs).

WATER: The Punjab government claims to have made a significant progress in launching ‘Chief Minister Punjab Clean Water Programme’ to curb saline and arsenic-contaminated water use by the people and providing them with safe potable water.

A summary regarding the programme has been sent to the Planning and Development Department.

According to a spokesperson for the Housing Department, the clean water programme will include installation of filtration plants, bottling units and a SCADA monitoring system.

In the first phase of the programme, clean potable water will be supplied to 14 districts -- Rahim Yar Khan, Rajanpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Layyah, Muzaffargarh, Kot Addu, Bhakkar, Mianwali, Khushab, Talagang, Chakwal, Jhelum, Rawalpindi, and Attock.

The spokesperson added that with the help of district administrations, appropriate locations will be identified in these districts for installation of water filtration and bottling plants.

It has been proposed that the filtration plants may be installed in schools, basic health units, police stations and other government buildings, besides madrassas (seminaries).

Under the SCADA system, the establishment of a central control room has also been proposed.

According to the spokesperson, this project has been designed keeping in view the vision and directions of the chief minister.

Published in Dawn, August 20th, 2025