The Karachi License Department has no appointments for visitors till January, 2016, who are intending to get learner license.
The Karachi License Department is issuing learner licenses’ forms that are stamped and is asking the applicants to revisit after two months due to rush of visitors at its all three branches in the metropolis.
Official sources said on Monday that Karachi License Department has acute shortage of computers and other equipment to deal with the large number of candidates who are visiting to get their learner licences after a drive was initiated in the city by Karachi Traffic Police against drivers having no lincence.
At least 8,500 learner licenses and up to 1,000 full driving licenses have been issued to Karachiities by the Karachi License Department in a week, said an official who want to be anonymous.
People were seen waiting for hours in long queues for their turn to get licence in all three branches of License Department including Clifton, Nazimabad and Korangi.
The official said that the License Department is also using its mobile van service. This van parked inside the Clifton Branch is issuing learner licenses.
The mobile van was supposed to visit colleges, universities and public places of the city to facilitate citizens in getting learner driving licenses on the spot. However, so far the van is parked inside the Clifton Branch, the official added.
Karachi needs at least 100 driving license centres:
Meanwhile, traders representatives have observed that Karachi needs at least 100 centres to issue learner driving licenses to citizens.
During a luncheon programme at Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) that was addressed by Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah, traders representatives said the decision of the Sindh government to postpone action for three months against people that drive their vehicles in the city without valid driving licenses was against the spirit of upholding of law.
They said nowhere in the world the violators of law are given such leniency. They said the government should take strict action against the violators of traffic law without giving them any lenience.
They praised the Deputy Inspector of General of Traffic Karachi Dr Amir Shiekh, saying that after a long time the city has got an honest and professional police officer. They regretted that instead of encouraging the honest officers like Dr Sheikh a particular lobby in the provincial government was not happy with his sincere efforts.
However, the DIG Driving License Department Dr Aftab Pathan Monday said that the three driving license branches of the city, Clifton, Nazimabad and Korangi would continue to work on Saturdays; however, after November 15 they would observe one weekly holiday on Sundays. However, from Monday to Saturday the citizens could avail themselves of services of these branches from 9:00am to 5:00pm.
