Despite tall claims by the Minister of Excise and Taxation (E&T) for taking stern action against malpractioners, officials in the department are using illegal means, forcing newly registered vehicle owners to pay sufficient amount as bribe.
Sources told Business Recorder on Monday that officials posted at E&T new motor vehicle registration wing (MVRW) were not issuing number plates without getting some Rs 2000 to Rs 4000 as bribe in each case. They said the car dealers and new vehicle owners are compelled to pay certain amount as bribe to acquire number plate.
When contacted, some prominent authorised car dealers said that the concerned officials have fixed certain amount (Rs 2000) for every case as token money, which is beside the actual fee of new registration. They said that the industry has already been suffering by high taxes but now this illegal practice is also restraining the consumers to buy new vehicles. They said that officials are illegally charging Rs 2000, which they have made as mandatory payment for each case. They regretted that it would hit further the auto business.
On a question, they said that if they did not pay the amount, the concerned officials would not issue licence plate. They said that they rationalised their act by saying the registration plates were lost and added that they have registered FIR in this regard as priority to conceal this illegal business.
Dealers said that the department has recently lodged FIR of some 41 missing number plates at New Town police station in this connection. They added that if any person paid the said amount, the licence plate would be recovered, else the stakeholder would be forced to submit the application of duplicate number plate. They urged the concerned authorities to take positive measures to eliminate the malpractices persisting for years and would facilitate all stakeholders at maximum.