To support flood victim rehabilitation efforts of the Sindh government, the second phase of issuing premium number plates will commence on October 12 in Karachi.

The provincial government received Rs670 million in the first phase of the issuance of premium number plates in July. The Excise and Taxation Department held the fund-raising auction.

“Funds obtained from the premium number plates are being allocated to the world’s largest housing project for flood victims,” Senior Minister for Information, Transport, Excise, Taxation, and Narcotics Control Sharjeel Inam Memon told reporters on Thursday.

“At the end of September, for the first time in Pakistan’s history, premium number plates will be issued online, with a dedicated portal currently under development. This will allow people to obtain premium number plates from the comfort of their homes,” the minister said.

The Excise and Taxation Office at the Civic Centre has undergone reforms to eliminate inconveniences, he claimed and added: “Our goal is to provide facilities and benefits directly to the people at their doorstep.”

He said the Sindh government, as a solution to Karachi’s traffic congestion issues, relocated major bus stands out of the metropolis and illegal bus stands were being removed. The heavy traffic that was impacting the city’s traffic system “would be kept out of the city and a free shuttle service has been introduced to transport passengers” from designated points to the bus terminal outside the city.