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A serious administrative lapse has surfaced in Punjab as the Multan Driving License Branch mistakenly issued a driving license to a male citizen bearing a woman’s photograph, later demanding additional fees and months of waiting to correct the department’s own error.
The affected citizen, Asghar Sawal, applied for his driving license in 2025 after completing all required training and successfully passing the driving test. He paid Rs. 7,000 for the process and waited for the official document.
When the license was delivered, Asghar was shocked to find that a woman’s photograph had been printed on his license instead of his own, effectively altering his gender identity on an official government document.
“I was shocked. It was clearly their mistake, but they’re asking me to pay and wait for months just to fix it,” Asghar said.
Asghar, who currently works in Karachi, contacted the Multan Driving License Branch to report the error. According to him, officials refused to accept responsibility and informed him that he must pay an additional Rs. 650 for correction. He was also told the process could take up to four months.
A driving license is not just a permit to drive but a critical identity document used during traffic checks, employment verification, and legal procedures. Such mistakes raise concerns over data handling, record management, and accountability within the Punjab Traffic Police’s licensing system.
Errors of this nature can cause embarrassment, legal confusion, and unnecessary hardship for citizens, especially those living away from their registered districts.
Frustrated by the response, Asghar has now appealed to the Inspector General of Punjab Police, urging immediate notice of the matter and correction without any additional charges, as the error was not his fault.
