People on Wednesday lambasted the caretaker Punjab government for “unjustified and unprecedented” increase in the fee for issuance of learner’s driving licence. The caretaker government had on Tuesday, in a cabinet meeting, increasedthe learner’s driving licence fee from Rs60 to Rs1,000. The fee will beapplicable from Jan 1, 2024. The cabinet also decided to raise fee for LTV (light transport vehicle),HTV (heavy transport vehicle) and PSV (public service vehicle) licence,while the citizens of the US, Canada and other countries can applyonline and will be charged $100 as licence fee.
The angry people said the increase in fee was excessive and would add totheir financial woes as they are already reeling under high inflationprevailing in the country. They urged the government to review the decision and bring it down toaffordable limit. As the news of fee hike spread, people rushed to police service centresto apply for learner’s licence. There were long queues in the centres. Meanwhile, CTO MustansarFeroze said the summary for increase in fee had been under consideration since long.
He justified delay in issuance of licence fee, saying that it was due torush of licence seekers. According to figures provided by the traffic police, 280,518 learner’s licences and 19,761 new licences were made in November while 18,312people renewed their licences.
