Vehicle registration, tax collection: RfP to develop online system being reissued

After receiving a poor response from the private sector, the Sindh excise and taxation department is going to again issue Request for Proposals (RfP) for the development of computerised motor vehicle registration and tax collection system, shortly.
Sources in the Sindh excise and taxation (E&T) department told Business Recorder on Tuesday, the department had earlier failed to receive a positive response from repute software developer companies; hence the project was standstill since its announcement.
They said that for the lack of interest from the private sector, the department had received only two RfP from local software developers for the development of computerised system. To a question, they said the department could not grant tender to any software developer because it requires minimum three proposals as per law, however, only two software companies had shown their concern for the development of the system, which was the major cause to delay its commencement.
They said that the Sindh Information Technology (IT) department was working to finalise RfP, which would be published in all major dailies, bring initial investment for the project.
Sources said that the software companies with substantial experience and proven capabilities of conceptualisation, planning and execution of same sort of computerised system would be asked to submit RfP. They estimate the project cost would around Rs 15 million to develop computerised vehicle registration and tax collection system.
The IT department will also serve professional assistance to the E&T department for commencing the project, besides providing training to staff members for operating the system, they added.
Sources said the computerised motor vehicle registration and the tax collection system was running successfully in all major cities of Sindh, including Karachi, Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas, Larkana and Sukkur. Now, department has decided to serve this facility to all cities of Sindh by online registration and tax collection system, they maintained.
They said that online vehicle tax-paying facility was being served by lesser number of banks while selected number of taxpayers were being entertained by it, hence the department was planning to expand it to all banks.
They apprised that the department was striving to attract major software developer companies intended to make comprehensive and flawless registration and levy collection system and hoped that it would help a vital role to enhance tax collection figures of the department, besides facilitating taxpayers to pay vehicle taxes on a single click.