The unique vehicle number plate Dawar-1 was sold for a record-breaking Rs 17 crore 50 lakh during a highly charged auction organized by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Excise & Taxation Department on Tuesday.
The bidding amazed many present at the auction when the price jumped sharply from Rs 12 million to Rs 150 million shortly after. The sudden rise triggered clear tension, with two bidders engaging in a heated exchange. The auction eventually closed at Rs 175 million, making Dawar-1 the most expensive special number plate sold in the province so far.
The auction, part of the department’s ongoing initiative to generate revenue through exclusive number plates, attracted business figures, collectors and high-net-worth individuals from across Pakistan. Such plates are often viewed as symbols of identity, status and influence, which continues to drive aggressive bidding.
Other premium plates also fetched notable prices during the event. Waziristan-1 was sold for Rs 4 crore 6 lakh, while Mohmand-1 went for Rs 3 crore. The plate Mahmood-1 was auctioned at Rs 2 crore 20 lakh, and Pashtoon-1 secured Rs 1 crore 32 lakh.
Officials termed the auction successful, noting that public interest in customized and symbolic plates has steadily increased over the past few years. Revenues generated from such auctions are typically directed towards provincial development and public welfare initiatives.
