KARACHI — Police in Karachi have given motorists a firm deadline of December 5 to replace illegal, tampered or unreadable number plates, warning that vehicles will be impounded after the cutoff date as part of an intensified citywide crackdown.
The enforcement orders were issued by Additional Inspector General Javed Alam Odho, who has called for “strict and indiscriminate action” against all vehicles using forged, altered or unidentifiable plates. Officials said that after December 5, any car or motorcycle found without proper plates will only be released following legal proceedings.
A spokesperson for Karachi Police said the campaign was launched in response to the rising misuse of number plates—an issue that has grown particularly after the implementation of the e-challan system. “A large number of people have either removed their plates or concealed them to avoid fines,” the spokesperson noted.
Orangi Town Station House Officer Inspector Muhammad Yousuf Mehr said police stations across the city have already begun snap-checking. “From December 6 onward, every vehicle and motorcycle will be stopped and examined to ensure the plates displayed are legal and readable,” he said.
Mehr added that complaints have surged regarding motorists who do not display plates at all or use plates with incomplete, altered or stylized digits. During checks, officers will inspect the vehicle’s documents and verify registration, engine numbers and chassis numbers through the Excise Department’s online portal or the CPLC. “We will verify whether the vehicle is legitimate and clear of any record,” he said.
Police will also authenticate the driver’s identity using the Tasdeeq biometric app, which provides personal details and highlights any criminal background. “If the vehicle or motorcycle is discovered to be stolen, the driver will be arrested under the relevant FIR and the vehicle will be seized,” Mehr explained. Suspicious or tampered plates will lead to immediate seizure under Section 550 of the Criminal Procedure Code, with release possible only after completion of legal procedures.
He added that if a vehicle is cleared but the driver has a criminal history, “action will be taken in accordance with the law.”
Police officials believe the crackdown will help curb rising vehicle and motorcycle thefts in Karachi, as well as improve overall security. The full enforcement drive is scheduled to begin on December 6. “Anyone violating the law should expect strict action,” Mehr warned.
