MULTAN – A case of administrative negligence has come to light at the Punjab Traffic Police Driving Licence Branch in Multan. A male applicant, Asghar Sawal, was issued a licence with a woman’s photograph instead of his own, raising concerns about record-keeping and accountability.
Asghar applied for a Driving Licence in 2025 after completing all required training and passing the driving test. He paid Rs7,000 for the licensing process. However, upon receiving the licence, he noticed that a woman’s photo had been mistakenly printed on the official document.
Currently residing in Karachi for work, Asghar said traveling repeatedly to Multan to fix the issue was difficult. He contacted the Multan Driving Licence Branch to correct the error.
Instead of acknowledging the department’s mistake, officials reportedly held him responsible. They asked him to pay Rs650 for the correction and warned that the process could take up to four months, despite the error originating within the branch.
“I was surprised and frustrated,” Asghar said. “It was their mistake, but they are asking me to pay and wait for months to fix it.”
The incident has highlighted serious issues in data management and administrative practices within the Punjab Traffic Police’s licensing system. Experts warn that such errors could create legal and practical complications, particularly during traffic checks, travel, or identity verification.
A Driving Licence serves as an official identity document and is crucial for legal compliance. Mistakes like these undermine public trust in the system and can cause significant inconvenience for citizens.
Asghar has appealed to the Inspector General of Punjab Police, requesting immediate intervention. He urged authorities to correct the licence without imposing additional charges, citing the clear administrative fault.
Officials at the Punjab Traffic Police have yet to respond publicly. Citizens have expressed concern over the lack of accountability and called for better oversight of the Driving Licence issuance process to prevent similar mistakes in the future.
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The case underscores the need for modernization and stricter checks in the licensing system to protect citizens’ rights and avoid unnecessary legal complications.
