Sir: The excise and taxation (E and T) department has taken many positive steps for improvement of the vehicle registration process, immediate delivery of standard number plates and tax tokens being two such actions. We understand that the immediate clearance of all number plates not supplied in the past is also in the pipeline. In order to take the E and T performance up to international standards, three additional measures are suggested. The delivery of the registration book to customers by courier service is one such improvement. This will link all buyers to a home address and would be helpful in traceability, especially in the crime-ridden environment that prevails in the country. There should be complete registration of all categories of government and police vehicles, and placing their database on the E and T website. They should create a customer complaint option on the E and T website that includes complaints about difficulty, delay or not getting the number plate on the same day, complaints about difficulty, delay or not getting the tax token on the same day, complaints about not having received a previously outstanding number plate, and complaints about any monetary demands by the staff.
There being no requirement for additional funds to accomplish these tasks, we hope that the E and T department will take urgent action to incorporate these suggestions.
NAEEM SADIQ
Via e-mail