HOW TO APPLY
You can apply to any traffic police office/licensing authority in your area using Form as shown in Annexure 1, available from all post offices and traffic police offices.

WHO CAN APPLY

• Motorcycle
• Car/LTV
• LTV/PSV
• GHGV
• HGV/PSV
• Agriculture Plant
• Road Rollers etc.

YOUR DRIVING LICENSE

The present version of the new license format is being introduced from January 2002. The license shows your full entitlements in the “Stamp” column. The validity dates of your entitlements and any information codes which may apply are also shown on the license.

The “counterpart” of the license contains details of

•  Endorsements (as supplied by convicting court)

•  Provisional entitlements held including any goods vehicle or bus entitlement

•  Previous license history

•  Definitions of driving license categories and information codes

You must be able to read a car number plate from a distance of 20.5m. You are also required to take a Theory Test which you must pass before you apply for your Practical Test in order to obtain your Full Driver's Licenses you must pass both tests.

Pre-learning is easy as long as you are aware of the traffic rules and situation.

Once you get a learner permit or provisional licenses, you should practice driving, learning the code in the presence of an experienced driver. And don't forget to display red L-Plate on your vehicle.

EXPLANATION OF GRADUATED LICENSING SYSTEM

The system provides for phased issuance of licensing from learner to full license in a period of 2 years.

•  A provisional license to be issued to the driver who has passed the test.

•  After having one year of driving experience and a satisfactory performance record. The drivers is required to attend a 5 day refresher training course in the evening hours.

•  After 2 years of driving experience and if there are no serious traffic violations within a certain limit, the driver is issued full license after 2 years automatically.

•  In case of any other violations with more than normal violation limit the driver will have to go through another 5 day training course at an approved school and the award of full license shall be postponed. This procedure has to be particularly reinforced for PSV drivers.

•  Candidate drivers may only apply for a full PSV license, if they have at least 3 years experience on a wagon or some other heavy similar vehicles.

•  In case of license drivers, they are to be monitored for involvement in serious accidents and anyone involved in a accident with a fatality should undergo refresher training at the driving school.

PROVISIONAL LICENSE CONDITIONS/ RESTRICTIONS (MOTOR CARS)

A Learner driver should be 18years of age and must be supervised. All learner drivers should display L-Plate on their vehicle. To supervise a learner driver the supervisor must be at least 21 years old and have a full license for at least 3 years. Anyone who does not comply with these requirements could be liable to maximum fine of Rs. 10,000/- discretionary disqualification or 3-6 penalty points (as could the learner driver). All applicants for a learner license are automatically granted provisional Motor car / Jeep category entitlement, provided they must meet the necessary health conditions.

LICENSE ISSUING SETUP

  A central driving office under DIG traffic in the provincial capital that has sole authority to issue licenses. The sub-offices in district shall recommend the application for the candidate drivers and perform all functions including testing. The central office could then check the application papers for correctness and issue the license by mail..

 DURATION OF LICENSES

Car driving entitlement (category of Motor Car / Jeep) will usually last until the age of 70 and then will be renewable every 3 years. Light Transport Vehicle including minibuses, (LTV), and Heavy Transport Vehicle (HTV) including trucks, buses, and other heavy commercial vehicles will last until the age of 65.and then renewed annually.

WHEN THE DRIVING TEST HAS BEEN PASSED

Once the driving test, both theory and practical, have been passed the licensee should exchange his/her test pass certificate for a full license as soon as possible. The licensee must apply for full entitlement within 2 years of passing the driving test otherwise another test has to be taken. The application for a full license can be submitted in the Traffic Police Office along with the test pass certificate and learner license. A fresh pass driver must display green L-Plate for at least six months.

VEHICLE FITNESS

A PSV driver should be legally in the possession of following documents when on road:

•  Revalidated Driving license

•  Revalidated Fitness Certificate

•  Payment Coupons updated

•  Insurance papers as per law

The fitness certificate is to be issued by MVE after having seen that vehicle has been checked and repaired at an approved workshops and later tested by an approved automobile engineer before issuing this certificate.

THE VEHICLE CATEGORIES

The following are the categories of vehicles for which the driving tests are passed:

MEDICAL RULES

License issuing department must be informed at once if:-

•  The licensee has any physical or mental disability which affects the fitness as a driver or which might do so in the future. This includes dependency on or misuse of alcohol, illicit drugs or narcotics.

•  The licensee may come to know in the future that of such a disability or condition.

The driver while informing about his/her medical condition must write to the License issuing office giving his/her driver license number, full name, date of birth, and what the medical condition is in as much detail as possible.

If in any doubt whether to notify the License issuing office, the driver should consult a doctor for advice.

There is a minimum legal eyesight standard which must be satisfied at all times while driving. The standard is the ability to read a car number plate at 20.5m (67 feet). The driver can easily check this by reading number plate at around 23 paces (with the aid of glasses or contact lenses if necessary). If in doubt, seek professional advice.

More stringent medical standards apply to drivers of Light Transport Vehicles, and Heavy Transport Vehicles & PSV.

Tighter rules apply for drivers who have been disqualified for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) of alcohol, drugs or narcotics. Such drivers will not regain their license until thay have satisfied the Medical Adviser at the Traffic Police Office that any drink / drugs problem he/she may have had is under control and there is unlikely to be any road safety risk if he drives.

REQUIREMENT OF INSURANCE AS PER MVO 1965

The insurance provides for vehicles plying on roads is as follows:

LTV/PSV - Third party insurance is must and under Motor Vehicle Act 1965 a fatality or injury gets compensated to a minimum f Rs. 16,000/- by the government in Qisas Diat law, the case goes to court and it fixes the compensation if an agreement is reached between two parties.

RENEWING, REPLACEMENT, AND REPORTING CHANGES IN DRIVING LICENSE

Every three years the driving license has to be renewed after re-verification for a fee on the prescribed government Form ‘E' at the local Traffic Police Office.

If the license is lost, stolen, or destroyed, the licensee should apply for a duplicate using Form'A' at the local Traffic Police Office. Keep in mind that all the codal formalities that were fulfilled for the first time have to be fulfilled again. If the license is found after requesting a duplicate, the original should be returned to the License issuing office with an explanatory note. If the license is lost or stolen, the driver should also inform the Police.

Also if there are any changes in the personal details such as change of address, change of name, etc the licensee must notify the licensing authority of those changes. Failure to report these changes will result in a Rs. 1500 penalty.

What action should be taken when a license-holder dies?

The person responsible for dealing with the effects of a deceased person should return any driving license to the License Issuing Office with a covering letter.

LICENSE IN LIEU OF FOREIGN COUNTRY LICENSE

An application for full Pakistani license may be made on Form LTV1 enclosing photographs of the original country's license. In person presence along with passport and original driving license is mandatory.

DRIVING A MINIBUS OR BUS

MINIBUSES

To drive a minibus which has over 8 passenger seats for hire or reward the driver will normally need Public Service Vehicle (PSV) category C. To obtain this license a driver must meet higher medical standards and take a further driving test.

If a driver meets higher medical standards and has passed an appropriate test, then he can drive a minibus with upto 16 passenger seats without holding category C provided:

•  The licensee drives on behalf of a non-commercial body for social purpose, but not for hire or reward.

•  The licensee is aged 22 and above

•  The Licensee has held a car license for at least 2 years.

•  The licensee is providing his services on a voluntary basis

•  The licensee meets health standards for driving a vehicle, if aged 70 or above.

BUSES

If a driver wishes to drive buses with more than 16 passenger seats, then he must obtain category D entitlement. To do this the driver must submit an application for provisional category D entitlement and take a test in a bus which meets test requirements.

LEARNER MOTORCYCLISTS

PROVISIONAL LICENSE CONDITIONS / RESTRICTIONS (MOTORCYCLES)

At the age of 18, a learner may ride a motorcycle upto 80cc. At age 21 learners have direct access to any size bike over 80cc but must be accompanied by a fully qualified instructor. If a rider does not have a full car or motorcycle / scooter license then a rider must apply for provisional motorcycle / scooter entitlement which is valid for two years. If the test is not passed during this period, the rider will lose his motorcycle / scooter entitlement for one year.

If a rider want to ride motorcycles again, he will have to apply for an exchange license. He can reapply for a provisional motorcycle license on a Form ‘A'. If the last provisional motorcycle license was held more than a year ago, the new provisional motorcycle license will be valid for a full two years. Otherwise the rider can reclaim the months left on his license when he gives it up (NOTE: a licensee cannot reclaim within 2 months of giving up his motorcycle license and there must be a whole month left to reclaim).

Provisional motorcycle entitlement issued with full licenses for motorcars, and scooters (category B,) is usually valid until the holder's 70 th birthday- but other leaner restrictions still apply.

INFORMATION ON ENDORSEMENT OFFENCE CODES & PENALTY POINTS

The following is a guide to only a few of the traffic violations and the number of penalty points and fines a court may impose, it does not reflect the fact that some offences may incur a disqualification.

Endorsements remain on a license for:

•  10 years from date of conviction for offences relating to drink/drugs and driving causing death by careless driving.

•  4 years from date of conviction for reckless / dangerous driving and offences resulting in disqualification

•  4 years from the date of offence in all other cases

At the appropriate time, a driver can apply to remove the endorsements from the license by submitting an application in the office of the Traffic Police.

LIST OF BOOKS/LITERATURE AVAILABLE FOR FURTHER READING

  In Pakistan , legal rules for traffic are laid down in 3 basic documents:

•  The Motor Vehicle Ordinance 1965

•  The West Pakistan Motor Vehicles Rules 1969

•  The Pakistan Highway Code

FURTHER INFORMATION

Further details about driver licensing are given in the leaflets available from the office of Local Traffic Police, Post Offices, and Vehicle Registration Office for a nominal fee.

The following fact sheets are also available from the Local Traffic Office:

•  Driving a Minibus

•  Motorcycles

•  Driving in Pakistan as a visitor or a new resident

•  Renewing your car Driving License

ADDRESSES OF VARIOUS DRIVING LICENSE ISSUANCE OFFICES IN PAKISTAN

Karachi

Hyderabad

Sukkur

Quetta

Multan

Lahore

Faisalabad

Rawalpindi

Islamabad

Peshawar

CHANGING YOUR NAME, ADDRESS OR VEHICLE?

-PLEASE-

NOTIFY THE LICENSE ISSUING AUTHORITY

IMMEDIATELY

To provide you with the best possible service, License Issuing Authority needs to keep an accurate record of your details.