Although the Provincial Ministry of Excise and Taxation (E&T) claimed to have ruled out all possibilities of illicit activities since the commencement of computerised system, officials in the department are said to be using illegal means to get undue benefits from the owners of newly registered vehicles for the release of license plates, Business Recorder learnt on Thursday.
According to sources, the officials posted in E&T new motor vehicle registration wing (MVRW) are persuading the owners of newly registered vehicles to pay Rs 4,000 to Rs 6,000 as bribe to get their cars registered in the department. They said the car dealers and the owners of new vehicles are compelled to pay said amount to acquire the license plates.
When contacted, some prominent authorised car dealers, said the concerned officials are being paid additional amount (Rs 4,000 to Rs 6,000) in every case as token money, which is excluded from new registration fee. They said the industry, which is already down in the dumps due to high taxes, relaxation in imported vehicles and soaring prices of the products, is now being victimised because of said practices, which led to create negative impact on the sales ledgers.
They said the auto business is facing immense difficulties because of this additional amount, which is now become mandatory payment in each case. Replying to a question, the dealers regretted that they are being pushed from pillar to post to get their license plates, if the said amount was not paid to the concerned officials. They said the number-plates of the vehicles were deliberately concealed to pressurise the owners of new vehicles for getting undue gains.
Moreover, they said if the said amount was paid, the license plates were immediately recovered else the stakeholders were forced to submit applications for duplicate number-plates. They also urged to the concerned authority to take remedial measures to eliminate these malpractices to facilitate the stakeholders at the maximum.