KARACHI: The Sindh government has introduced security-featured Motor Vehicle Registration (MVR) smart cards to ensure authenticity of registration documents. The smart cards will replace registration booklets. Mukesh Kumar Chawla, the minister for Excise and Taxation, introduced the smart card at a ceremony held at the Civic Centre on Friday. Talking to the media afterwards, Chawla said the new cards would help eliminate forgery in transfer and registration of vehicles. He said, “this is a milestone achieved by the Sindh government and such steps will not only eradicate the menace of fake registration of vehicles that is a real threat to law and order situation but also facilitate the citizens.” He explained that the smart card had unique features and ease of access as compared to older registration books and it would allow greater flexibility to the authorities to verify it anywhere across the province through special devices. “These smart cards are equipped with some advanced security features as compared to traditional registration books.” In August 2016, Chawla had announced that his department would convert licence books into smart cards to eliminate the possibility of forgery and to allow greater flexibility to the authorities. A similar initiative has also been launched by Punjab government. Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has appreciated the step and asked the Excise Department to introduce such measures for motorcycles registration, adding since motorbikes were used in a large number of reported cases of street crimes, the new technology could be helpful in catching criminals and ensuring rule of law. Population Welfare minister Mumtaz Khan Jhakharni also acknowledged the efforts of the Excise and Taxation Department, saying that the provincial government had taken many measures to provide relief to the people and the introduction of smart card was among such measures. Published in Daily Times, May 19th 2018.