Punjab Launches PAK-ID App for Online Vehicle Biometric Verification

By Dr Ansab Ali | Lahore, Pakistan
LAHORE: In a major step toward enhancing transparency and digital governance, the Excise & Taxation Department of Punjab has formally launched the PAK-ID App to facilitate biometric verification of vehicles through a fully online system.
The app has been developed in collaboration with the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB). It enables vehicle owners, both within Pakistan and overseas, to verify ownership for vehicle registration and transfer without visiting government offices.
With the launch of the PAK-ID App, overseas Pakistanis will no longer be required to visit Pakistani embassies, submit attested affidavits, or execute power of attorney for ownership verification. Instead, vehicle owners can complete biometric verification and Face ID authentication from home using their mobile phones. The Face ID feature is particularly beneficial for senior citizens whose thumb impressions may have faded over time.
The app was inaugurated at the Directorate Office by Director General Excise & Taxation Umar Sher Chatha in the presence of senior representatives from NADRA and PITB.
Addressing the ceremony, DG Excise Umar Sher Chatha said the department had long faced challenges in biometric verification, often leading to delays in vehicle transfer processes. He noted that overseas Pakistanis previously had to go through lengthy procedures involving affidavits, Ministry of Foreign Affairs verification, and embassy attestations. Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms had also added complexity to ownership transfers.
He emphasized that with the introduction of the PAK-ID App, all manual and embassy-based verification procedures have been abolished. The digital system reduces human intervention, streamlines workflows, and enhances transparency and efficiency. Citizens in remote areas and abroad can now complete vehicle ownership transfers without relying on agents or intermediaries.
The DG further stated that transfer fee payments are already being processed through the E-Pay system, which is fully cashless, visit-less, and paperless. Once ownership verification and payment are completed, the vehicle transfer process is finalized within 48 hours.
Speaking to the media, Umar Sher Chatha said that collaboration with NADRA would enable online verification of vehicle owners across all four provinces, paving the way for integration of provincial vehicle data at the national level. He added that departmental data is being linked with NADRA to strengthen digital verification and governance frameworks.
On the occasion, NADRA’s Chief Project Officer Rehman Qamar described the PAK-ID App as a secure and reliable digital platform built on advanced biometric technology, noting that it would enhance transparency and public trust while improving service delivery.
Reaffirming the department’s commitment to reform, the DG Excise said the Excise & Taxation Department Punjab would continue introducing citizen-centric initiatives to promote digital transformation and deliver maximum relief to the public. The ceremony concluded with the exchange of honorary shields between the Director General Excise & Taxation and NADRA’s Chief Project Officer.