The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has introduced a new vehicle registration system under which number plates will belong to citizens rather than vehicles.

Under the personalised registration mark (PRM) system, a vehicle owner will retain the number even after selling the car, while the buyer will be required to apply for a new registration number.

Chief Minister Sohail Afridi formally launched the system in Peshawar, where officials in a briefing said that the new mechanism would help curb the illegal use of vehicles, eliminate fake and cloned number plates, and improve transparency in the registration process.

Under the new system, citizens will be allowed to keep their number for up to three years without assigning it to a vehicle.

According to the briefing, the number plate will now be treated like a citizen’s ID card or mobile number.

When a vehicle is sold, the number will remain with the seller without any additional fee, while the buyer will apply separately for a new number.

Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister said the digital PRM system would make vehicle registration faster, more transparent and corruption-free.

He directed the Excise Department to introduce an online system for vehicle registration as well, reiterating the provincial government’s commitment to public service and a zero-tolerance policy against narcotics.
Afridi also announced a police-style martyr compensation package for officers of the Excise Department engaged in anti-narcotics operations.

He praised the department’s efforts and called for a more robust crackdown on drug traffickers, including “big players”.