Rawalpindi: Over the past two months, the Rawalpindi Traffic Police have made significant strides in issuing a substantial number of driving licenses, and the process is still ongoing.
Reportedly, individuals lacking a driving license have been offered the option of obtaining a learner’s license, a commendable effort to promote road safety. To enhance accessibility, traffic police wardens and officials have extended their services through mobile units stationed at various locations, including educational institutions.
However, this otherwise promising initiative has encountered unexpected hitches. There have been instances where certain traffic wardens, and in some cases even traffic policemen, who lack the authority to issue penalties, have been observed collecting ID cards from individuals and issuing learner licenses coercively. When drivers are halted without a license, they’re pressurized into immediate compliance, under the implicit threat of avoiding penalties or having their ID cards returned.
An interesting facet of this situation is that when individuals apply for a learner’s license, they are handed a multitude of slips, encompassing licenses for motorcycles, cars, heavy vehicles, and at times, even tractor trolleys.
Sources within the community have disclosed that some individuals protest against the imposed fee. Despite their financial concerns, they are informed that the fee amounts to less than a hundred rupees and must be settled for the issuance of the learner’s license. Regrettably, data entry is conducted without seeking the applicants’ input, leading to the issuance of an unnecessary surplus of 4 to 5 learner’s licenses that individuals are obligated to pay for.
Infuriated citizens have expressed their dismay, questioning the rationale behind acquiring licenses for vehicles they neither own nor operate. They propose that instead of issuing a bundle of licenses during the payment process, authorities should ascertain the precise type of learner’s license an individual requires. The original intent of providing convenience has, regrettably, metamorphosed into an unintended inconvenience for certain individuals.
It is of paramount importance for the Rawalpindi Traffic Police to heed these concerns and ensure that the issuance of learner’s licenses maintains transparency and fairness, without unduly burdening the citizens. Addressing these operational challenges promptly will undoubtedly contribute to the success and positive impact of this commendable initiative.
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.