Back in September, there was news that the Punjab biometric system is going to be suspended for three months. The reports claimed that decision was taken because the record of older cars and motorbikes is not digitalized yet. Henceforth, Punjab Excise is suspending the biometric verification system so that the issues in the system can be resolved.
However, the excise department clarified the rumors. The department official told PakWheels that the “Punjab Excise department has sent a summary to the Punjab government requesting a 60-day relaxation period for exceptional cases.” He added that in these cases, the applicant would file an application in the Excise stating the reasons for the unavailability of the buyer/seller.
“After receiving the application and evaluating it, the department can bypass the biometric system to register/transfer the vehicle manually,” the sources said, reiterating that this would be only in exceptional cases.
“The biometric verification system is intact as it is,” the sources concluded. And most importantly, there has yet to be an official notification, and 60-day relaxation will be applicable after notice from the Punjab cabinet.
Update on Punjab Biometric System
Now there is an update as this suspension of two months has been applied, but only on special cases, as mentioned earlier. According to a notification, the “authority is exempting the motor vehicles from the operation of rule 47 to the extend of the biometric impression of transfer, for a period of two months in respect of hardship cases.”
The exemption has been implemented with immediate effect. “The exemption granted above shall be deemed withdrawn after the expiry of two months,” the notification read.
Explaining the exemption, an excise official told PakWheels that the biometric system would remain intact as it is, but there is a temporary exemption for some cases. “If a buyer submits a written application in the MRA department of excise that he has bought a vehicle, but he/she cannot trace the recorded (previous) owner, then the department will issue an order to the previous owner, and after its satisfaction, it will issue a speaking order,” the official said. He further explained that after the order, the biometric of the seller (previous owner) would be skipped, and the transaction would be completed with the biometric of the purchaser. “This exemption is only for hardship cases for only two months,” he concluded.
So, if you have bought a vehicle through a dealer but could not trace the previous owner, visit the excise department and transfer it to your name within the next two months. Be sure to complete the process as soon as possible.
