On July 4, 2025, Karachi residents are facing mounting frustration due to the Sindh government’s mandatory Ajrak-themed number plate policy, intended to curb vehicle theft and boost tax collection. With over 52,000 challans and 12,000 vehicle seizures, delays and poor infrastructure have turned the initiative into a public relations crisis.
The Sindh Excise and Taxation Department mandated new retro-reflective Ajrak-designed number plates for all vehicles by June 30, 2025, extending the deadline from April 3, to enhance security and prevent fraud. Private vehicles require white plates, while commercial ones require yellow plates, costing Rs 2,450 for cars and Rs 1,850 for motorcycles. Over 8.6 million vehicles, including 4.5 million motorcycles, must comply, but only 80,000 plates are ready, per Minister Mukesh Kumar Chawla.
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The policy’s rollout has overwhelmed Karachi’s Civic Centre, with 6,000 applications in 10 days, compared to a prior two-month total of 500 for motorbike plates, according to an Excise official. Sluggish processing and inadequate infrastructure have led to delays, with applicants often being turned away. The traffic police issued over 52,000 challans and seized 12,000 vehicles in two months for non-compliance, fueling public outrage. Residents criticise the lack of awareness campaigns and clear guidelines.
MQM-P’s Farooq Sattar accused authorities of “looting” Karachiites, while Jamaat-e-Islami’s Munem Zafar Khan condemned “systematic extortion” by traffic police. Calls for city-wide camps and courier delivery of plates are growing, with residents urging a halt to fines until the processes improve, as echoed on social media.
