Punjab Govt to introduce new camera-readable universal number plates

The Excise and Taxation Department and Punjab Safe City Project (PSCA) have proposed to introduce new vehicle number plates design for the province. The new design will be implemented after getting approval from Punjab Chief Minister, Mian Shahbaz Sharif.

The reason behind new number plate design is that CCTV cameras are not able to detect and read the current number plates. PSCA plans to install more than 10,000 CCTV cameras this year to help improve the traffic surveillance and number plates’ detection.

Expected design of Number Plates

The new number plate design would be 325mm by 152mm in size for four-wheelers and 220mm by 150mm for rickshaws and motorbikes. The modified size and font size of the universal license plates would make them camera-readable. The new license plates will reportedly consist of only three digits each, instead of four. Adeel Amjad, senior officer of Excise & Taxation Department said,

“The department has sent over 70pc of departmental data to the safe city authorities and the design of the new number plates is also ready.

From now on, universal number plates will be issued throughout the whole province, but those who have already received computerized plates will be compensated with the universal plates,”

The fee charges for the universal number plates will be Rs. 1200 for four-wheeled vehicles and Rs. 450 for motorbikes and rickshaws.

The official also said that rickshaws and motorbikes are responsible for most traffic violations in the city. Thousands of citizens have been served e-challan for violating traffic rules. The new number plate design would make it easier for CCTV cameras to read the plates. The traffic law offenders will be fined and could be sentenced 15 days imprisonment to a whole year.

The excise department and safe city authorities are all set to generate more revenue through their decision. Last year, the department collected Rs 16 billion in revenue and is expected to collect Rs 18 billion as a result of the recent decision.

About PPIC3

Established by PSCA, Punjab Police Integrated Command, Control and Communication System (PPIC3) started in Lahore last year and it will complete by June 2017 by subsequently establishing the system in Rawalpindi, Bahawalpur, Multan, Sargodha, Faisalabad and Gujranwala. The aim of the IC3 Program is to set up new hardware using the latest technology that will improve police’s efficiency. IC3 is currently identifying the potential areas for installing thousands of CCTV cameras in like public institutions, public roads, key infrastructure, VIP routes, crime hotspots and entry and exit points.