The Auditor General of Pakistan (AGP) has found that the Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP) raised driving licence fees by up to 733 percent without federal government approval, and has recommended that the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration review and rationalise the fee structure.
According to the audit report, the ITP amended Rule 26 of the Pakistan Motor Vehicles Rules, 1969, through a notification issued by the Chief Commissioner Islamabad Office on May 13, 2024, revising licence fees with effect from that month.
The audit report found the increases ranged from 100 to 733.33 percent over the rates notified in 2018, with no documented cost-based justification. Under the revised structure, the permit fee for learner rose from Rs300 to Rs1,000.
Driving licence fees for non-professional and professional drivers increased from Rs1,200 to Rs3,000 and Rs10,000, respectively. The motorcycle licence fee rose from Rs1,500 to Rs10,000, while the digital licence card fee increased from Rs400 to Rs2,000.
Renewal fees within 30 days, one year, three years and beyond three years were set at Rs2,000, Rs2,500, Rs3,000 and Rs8,000, up from Rs700, Rs1,500 and Rs400 under the previous schedule.
Fees for duplicate licences, conversion and endorsement rose from Rs1,200 to Rs3,000, while renewal and duplicate permit fees for learner increased from Rs150 to Rs500. The licence restoration fee doubled from Rs10,000 to Rs20,000.
A comparison with the National Highways and Motorway Police (NH&MP) showed ITP fees were 200 percent to 700 percent higher for identical services.
The audit noted that licence issuance is a regulatory function, not a revenue-generating activity, and that the increases were inconsistent with principles of reasonableness, equity and public facilitation.
The AGP also questioned the legality of the revision, stating that the Chief Commissioner Islamabad amended the rules without federal government approval, making the notification legally unauthorised.
The audit recommended that the ICT government rationalise the fee structure in line with actual service delivery costs and comparable organisations, and that the revised fees be formally approved by the federal government.
The management did not respond to audit queries until finalisation of the report. Capital police were also approached for comment verbally and through messages but did not respond.
