
Ban on altering bikes into rickshaws
The Secretary of the Transport Authority, the Excise, Taxation & Narcotics Control Department, and the Traffic Police have been ordered to launch an immediate crackdown against these modified motorcycles. Original loader rickshaws and Qingqis will continue to operate for passenger and goods transport.
The government has specifically targeted those motorcycles that have been altered into loader rickshaws with metal grills or wooden frames. A ban has been enforced on these modified vehicles operating on main roads, business areas, and high-traffic roads.
Orders have been issued for such vehicles to be impounded in police stations. In case of impoundment, the owners will be handed back the vehicles after the loader accessories are removed, and the motorcycles will be released under judicial custody.

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Express Tribune
10-07-2025
- Express Tribune
Ban on altering bikes into rickshaws
The government has imposed an immediate ban on converting motorcycles into loader-rickshaws by attaching metal and wooden frames in the Rawalpindi division. The Secretary of the Transport Authority, the Excise, Taxation & Narcotics Control Department, and the Traffic Police have been ordered to launch an immediate crackdown against these modified motorcycles. Original loader rickshaws and Qingqis will continue to operate for passenger and goods transport. The government has specifically targeted those motorcycles that have been altered into loader rickshaws with metal grills or wooden frames. A ban has been enforced on these modified vehicles operating on main roads, business areas, and high-traffic roads. Orders have been issued for such vehicles to be impounded in police stations. In case of impoundment, the owners will be handed back the vehicles after the loader accessories are removed, and the motorcycles will be released under judicial custody.


Express Tribune
10-07-2025
- Express Tribune
Excise dept yet to prepare tax bills
Despite the start of the new financial year 2025-26, the Rawalpindi Excise, Taxation & Narcotics Control Department has yet to prepare the commercial and residential property tax bills. The department has linked various property types to the government-assessed property prices set by the deputy commissioners in different areas. As a result, the commercial and domestic property tax rates across Rawalpindi Division and other cities in Punjab have increased by 10-25pc. Deputy commissioners of Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Murree, Talagang, and Jhelum have raised the official property prices in their respective areas. However, the updated data has yet to be uploaded to the Excise Department's tax app, and the department has not received a hard copy of the data. Furthermore, the department's online system has been facing continuous technical issues. Despite the passage of the first ten days of the new financial year, no new property tax bills have been issued. The Director of Excise and Taxation, Rawalpindi, confirmed that new property tax bills will begin to be issued by the end of July. Taxpayers will receive notices to pay their property tax without any penalty by September 30. If the tax is not paid by October 1, operations will be carried out against defaulters, and properties will be sold. This year, property tax bills will also be sent via WhatsApp, and recipients will be required to confirm receipt. Even after confirmation, if the tax is not paid, the property will be seized.


Express Tribune
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Excise misses tax target by 52 per cent
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