KP transport dept accused of issuing fraudulent licences to overseas Pakistanis

PESHAWAR: A scandal has emerged involving the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Transport Department issuing fraudulent driving licences to hundreds of Pakistanis living in Australia and Hong Kong.

According to details, the Pakistani High Commission and Consulate in Australia have written to the KP Transport Department, stating that Australian authorities have identified fake driving licences issued to individuals from Punjab and other regions. The authorities have expressed severe reservations about the matter.

The Hong Kong Independent Commission Against Corruption has also written to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), identifying 89 Pakistanis who were allegedly issued fake driving licences by the KP Transport Department.

The Foreign Office in Islamabad while taking notice of the situation wrote to the Chief Secretary, Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry, on May 29 stating that the issuance of fake driving licences has damaged the country’s reputation and demanded accountability for those responsible and an investigation into the matter.

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The KP Transport Department issued a notification on November 29, 2021, stating that only KP domicile holders would be issued LTV, HTV, and PSV cards.

Former Director Transport KP, Zishan Abdullah, told Hum English News that action has been taken against the Deputy Director MIS and Assistant Director IT, and the software has been updated. Additionally, a summary has been sent to NADRA for biometric verification of licenses.