KARACHI: Citizens of Karachi soon be able to get driving licenses equivalent to international standards as the National Highway and Motorway Police (NH&MP) is working to setup driving license branch in the metropolis, Daily Times has learnt on Thursday. Farhan Ahmed, senior patrolling officer at NH&MP told this scribe that the authority is planning to launch international standard driving licenses in the city of Karachi while in this regard necessary arrangements are in progress. ‘Though it is a tough task to cater the city of more than 20 million, we need much more manpower and resources to set up the driving license facility in the city. NH&MP is working on the venture and Karachiites will have soon the opportunity to get a driving license that is compliant to international standards”, he added. Ahmed said applicants would have to meet the requirements to get the driving license which includes one week driving course from NH&MP driving schools. After driving lessons, senior officers would conduct driving test and moves of the driver would be closely monitored through camera, fixed in front mirror. Currently, NH&MP’s driving license branches are operational in four cities of the country including Lahore, Islamabad, Sheikhupura and Kamra while another branch would be opened soon in Karachi. However, Ahmed did not mention the exact opening date. “Every year more than 12 thousand precious lives are lost in road accidents in Pakistan. The NH&MP over the years has analyzed the causes of these accidents on the Highways and Motorways. The main villain in most of the cases has turned out to be the drivers of vehicles”, said Dr. Waliullah, DIG, NH&MP, N-5, south zone. Although the drivers involved in the accidents had proper driving licenses, duly issued by District driving licensing authorities, but unfortunately the causes of accidents reflected complete lack of knowledge and traffic sense on part of the driver. This depicts the low quality and standards adopted for testing the drivers before issuance of the licenses. The possession of driving license in Pakistan unfortunately is not synonymous with proper and careful driving as the licenses are issued without testing the requisite knowledge and skills and without taking a proper theoretical and practical driving test of the license seekers. The NH&MP has established a licensing authority, mandated by NHSO-2000, with the aim to raise the standards of licensing in Pakistan. NH&MP driving licenses will be issued after the applicants qualify the theoretical and practical driving tests. The theoretical test assesses the knowledge of traffic laws/rules of the candidate while practical test examines his/her practical expertise in driving.