Business Desk 
Aug 05, 2025
In a recent development, the Sindh Excise and Taxation Department has extended the deadline for the replacement of existing vehicle number plates with new Ajrak-themed plates.
Notably, vehicle owners now have until October 31, 2025, to obtain Ajrak-themed number plates, according to the authorities.
Previously, the provincial government set August 14, 2025, as the deadline for acquiring new security-featured number plates.
As per the notification, the extension was given for two-wheelers (motorcycles) following the directives of Sindh Minister for Excise, Taxation & Narcotics Control Mukesh Kumar Chawla.
However, the Sindh government's move to mandate new vehicle number plates caused major inconvenience for Karachi residents, sparking a wave of fines, vehicle seizures, and rising frustration among the public.
It is worth noting that the fee for a new number plate is Rs1,850 for motorbikes and Rs2,450 for cars, sparking further criticism.
Meanwhile, citizens argue they’ve already paid once and shouldn’t be charged again. Several have urged the Excise Department to set up city-wide camps and conduct the process systematically, while reining in the alleged excesses of the traffic police.
The new number plates with Ajrak design have special features, which are readable by the surveillance cameras of the safe city project in Sindh.
