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Pakistan: Description of and procedures to obtain a driver's license

During a 26 October 2009 telephone interview, an official at the High Commission of Pakistan in Ottawa stated that in Pakistan, driver's licenses are administered provincially by the police and each province issues licenses with a different physical appearance. The Official stated that, as a result, driver's licenses from Islamabad look different from those in Karachi (Pakistan 26 Oct. 2009). He stated that they are now issued in the form of a card, similar to those found in Ontario, but there is no standard format (ibid.). The Official also provided the information in the following paragraph.

The card displays the name, date of birth, address, and blood group of the cardholder. If the cardholder is an unmarried female, the card will display her father's name, and if she is married, it will display her husband's name. The driver's license of a male cardholder will display his father's name. The card also carries an issue and expiry date, as well as a license number. The signatures of the issuing authority and the cardholder also appear on the card. The Official indicated that in remote districts, licenses could still be issued on paper in the form of a small booklet, which includes a photo, personal details and the stamp of the issuing authority.

In regard to procedure, the Official stated that an individual must apply for his or her license at a local police traffic office (Pakistan 26 Oct. 2009). The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of Pakistan states that qualified applicants must be eighteen years of age, have a National Identity Card (NIC), proof of residence for the area where they are applying and be able to read a vehicle plate at a distance of 20.5 metres (Pakistan n.d.). The Official indicated that applicants must pass a written test and a practical test, wherein the applicant takes a road test with a police officer, in order to receive a learner's license and that these tests are repeated before a full license is conferred (Pakistan 26 Oct. 2009). He also indicated that individuals must have their learner's license for six months to one year before they can apply for their full license (ibid.).

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of Pakistan states that the graduated system of licensing takes two years, and midway, individuals must take a five-day evening course (Pakistan n.d.). The Ministry states that once an individual has driven for two years without any "serious" traffic violations, a full license is automatically conferred (ibid.). In order to obtain a full license, the Ministry states that individuals must submit their "test pass certificate," which indicates that they have passed both the written and practical test, as well as their learner's license with their application (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

References

Pakistan. 26 October 2009. High Commission of Pakistan, Ottawa. Telephone interview with an official.
_____. N.d. "Driver Licensing Information." Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. <http://www.pak.gov.pk/driving_license.aspx> [Accessed 22 Oct. 2009]

Additional Sources Consulted

Internet sites, including: Dawn, Government of Pakistan Gateway, Keesing's Reference System, The Nation [Lahore], United States (US) Department of State – Reciprocity Schedule.