WHILE people of Karachi had already been reeling under the burden of poor governance and lacl( of basic needs, lil(e clean drinking water, quality public-sector education and healthcare, and road infrastructure, they were further pushed into hardship when the government in Sindh forced them to acquire new car and motorcycle registration plates. It has now been a year since the government made it mandatory for all cars and two-wheelers to have the new plates. The official fee was Rs2,450 for cars. As law-abiding citizens of the land, we immediately deposited the amount with the Sindh Excise and Taxation Department.
Those not complying with the notice were threatened that they would be subjected to heavy penalties and would face dire consequences. It has now been more than a year that my case has been pending with the said department. We are being told there are many more people affected who are waiting in the queue for the new plates. But, for reasons best known to the officials, the department has not only stopped issuing new number plates without giving any specific reason for the decision; it has never issued any notification in this regard.
To put people of Karachi in a limbo, the amount deposited by them to acquire the new plates has also not been reimbursed to them. Will the authorities responsible for this apathy rise to the occasion? They must do the needful as there has been no official explanation for the non-issuance of the registration plates to the applicants.
Talat Rahim Karachi