The digital driving license issued through the Driving License Issuance Management System has been declared legally valid by provincial authorities since 2023, yet drivers in major cities still report confusion when interacting with traffic officers. Officials stress that a verified digital driving license shown on a mobile device carries the same legal status as the physical smart card, and that this change is fully supported by law.
Traffic departments have issued clear instructions that a DLIMS-issued e-license may be verified by wardens and traffic officers using their handheld devices by entering the citizen’s CNIC. In Punjab, traffic wardens are required to verify licenses through official systems, and drivers with a valid record cannot be penalised for not carrying a physical card.
Despite those directives, commuters in Islamabad, Lahore and other urban centres continue to encounter officers who insist on seeing the plastic card. Authorities advise motorists to remain calm, ask officers to perform the on-spot verification through the official DLIMS portal and present the DLIMS-generated PDF with its verifiable QR code rather than screenshots to speed up checks.
To improve compliance, police departments have set up complaint channels for citizens. In Punjab people can call the Punjab Police Complaint Cell at 1787 or send incident details, including the officer’s name or chest number, to the DIG Traffic Punjab’s designated WhatsApp number. In Islamabad and Sindh motorists are urged to use traffic help desks or lodge complaints via official citizen service apps when officers refuse to accept a verified digital license.
Traffic officials emphasise that the digital driving license system is intended to simplify procedures and reduce paperwork, not to create new obstacles. Drivers are advised to keep an offline copy of their digital license saved on their phone, ensure devices are charged and always carry their original CNIC to facilitate rapid verification if requested.
Authorities say the move to a digital driving license is irreversible and backed by law, and they encourage citizens to become familiar with verification steps and complaint mechanisms. Greater awareness and use of the official verification process will help ensure smoother implementation of the e-license system and stronger accountability on Pakistan’s roads.
