The Sindh government has extended relaxation in biometric verification requirements for vehicle transfer procedures, allowing buyers to complete ownership transfers without mandatory NADRA biometric verification from sellers across the province.
According to a notification issued by the Sindh Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Department on May 7, 2026, the revised policy aims to simplify vehicle registration processes and reduce administrative hurdles faced by citizens during transfers.
Officials said the decision has been taken to facilitate the public and improve efficiency in the province’s vehicle ownership system, where delays and verification issues have repeatedly been reported.
Under the updated directive, the exemption from seller biometric verification has now been extended until June 30, 2026. The department has instructed all relevant offices and service centres to implement the revised procedure without exception.
And authorities clarified that the relaxation applies only to the biometric requirement of sellers at the time of transfer, while other legal documentation and tax obligations will remain in place.
Policy aimed at easing public burden
The Sindh Excise Department has been under pressure to streamline vehicle transfer procedures, particularly in urban centres like Karachi, where long queues and system delays have become common at excise offices and authorized facilitation centres.
But despite digital reforms in recent years, citizens have continued to report difficulties in completing transfers due to biometric verification bottlenecks, especially when sellers are unavailable, uncooperative, or residing outside the province.
So, the latest extension is seen as a practical step to address these recurring issues.
A senior official from the department, speaking on condition of anonymity on May 7, 2026, said the decision was based on field-level feedback from excise offices.
“We have received consistent complaints about delays caused by biometric mismatches and non-availability of sellers,” the official said. “This temporary relaxation is meant to ensure smoother transfers while maintaining record integrity.”
Implementation across Sindh
The Sindh Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Department has directed all regional and district offices to ensure uniform implementation of the policy across the province.
And officials have warned that any deviation from the notification will be treated as a procedural violation.
The exemption is expected to benefit thousands of vehicle buyers, particularly in Karachi’s used car market, where ownership transfers often face delays due to verification requirements.
Relief for buyers in active market
In Karachi’s automobile markets such as Korangi and Saddar, dealers have welcomed the decision, saying it will reduce friction in used vehicle transactions.
However, they also noted that clarity in documentation requirements remains essential to prevent disputes between buyers and sellers.
The relaxation comes at a time when vehicle transactions in Sindh continue to rise, driven by demand for second-hand cars amid rising prices in the new vehicle segment.
According to Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) data from March 2026, automobile-related registration activity in urban centres has shown steady growth, reflecting increased movement in the used vehicle market.
So, the extension of biometric exemption is expected to support transaction flow, particularly for middle-income buyers navigating affordability constraints.
Authorities have indicated that the policy will remain under review and may be revised again depending on administrative performance and public feedback before its expiry in June 2026.
