Sindh car dealers say 30-day registration rule is unrealistic

KARACHI: Motor vehicle dealers in Sindh have urged the provincial government and the Excise, Taxation, and Narcotics Control Department to reconsider a new law requiring vehicles to be registered within a month.

They are calling for a three-month delay to allow them time to clear their existing stock before the law takes effect.

According to Express Tribune, the dealers are reacting to the recent amendment to Section 23 of the Provincial Motor Vehicles Ordinance 1965, which reduces the vehicle registration period from six months to just one.

Dealers argue that this abrupt change is unrealistic and will harm both their businesses and customers, as many vehicles take longer to sell. They demand that regulations must be practical and tailored to the market’s needs.

According to the new law, all vehicles—including motorbikes, rickshaws, and cars—must be registered within 30 days of their import or sale. If not, dealers and owners face heavy penalties: Rs5,000 for motorbikes, Rs10,000 for rickshaws, and Rs10,000 to Rs200,000 for four-wheelers, depending on the delay.

Auto sector expert Muhammad Sabir Shaikh has called for a review of the law, warning that it could cripple an already struggling industry. He pointed out that dealers often need more time to sell vehicles, with some models taking longer than six months to move off showroom floors.

Karachi Motorcycle Dealers Association Chairman Muhammad Ahsan Gujjar echoed this sentiment, urging the government to grant dealers at least three months to comply with the new regulation. He noted that dealers were only recently made aware of the amendment and would struggle to sell their stock within the 30-day window.

An official from the Excise Department defended the law, stating that it aims to reduce vehicle theft and the prevalence of unregistered vehicles, benefiting law enforcement efforts. However, dealers continue to stress the need for a more flexible approach that takes business realities into account.

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