New driving licence procedure introduced in Lahore, 24-hour deadline for road test

A new procedure for obtaining driving licences has been introduced in Punjab, requiring applicants to take their road test within

LAHORE: A new procedure for obtaining driving licences has been introduced in Punjab, requiring applicants to take their road test within 24 hours of passing the e-sign test.

The new and stricter procedure came into effect on September 17, 2026, with the objective of making the driving licence process more transparent, efficient and time-bound.

According to details, the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Traffic has directed traffic heads across all districts to ensure strict and uniform implementation of the revised rules. The new system introduces specific deadlines for applicants at different stages of the licensing process, including the e-sign test, road test and payment of the prescribed licence fee.

Under the revised procedure, applicants who successfully pass the e-sign test will be required to appear for the road test within 24 hours. Traffic authorities have made compliance with this deadline mandatory as part of the new licensing mechanism.

If an applicant fails to take the road test within the stipulated 24-hour period, the result of the e-sign test will expire. In such a situation, the applicant may be required to appear for the e-sign test again before proceeding with the remaining stages of the licence application.

The procedure also introduces a specific time limit for payment of the driving licence fee after successfully completing the road test.

After passing the road test, applicants will be required to complete the fee payment process through a Payment Slip Identification (PSID). Once the PSID is generated, applicants will have seven days to deposit the required fee.

Traffic authorities have warned that failure to make the payment within the seven-day period may result in the PSID expiring. If the licensing process is subsequently cancelled, the applicant may have to repeat the relevant stages, including the e-sign and road tests.

The revised system also links the various stages of the driving licence process through the Driving Licence Issuance Management System (DLIMS), allowing the application to move through the required stages in an integrated manner.

Under the new mechanism, the formal application for issuance of a driving licence will be submitted through the relevant system from the road-test location itself. This is intended to streamline the process and reduce delays between testing, fee payment and issuance of the licence.

Traffic authorities have instructed officials in all districts to follow the new procedure consistently and ensure that applicants are informed about the revised deadlines and requirements.

The introduction of the time-bound system is expected to make the licensing process more organised by connecting the e-sign test, road test, fee payment and licence application stages through the same digital framework.

Applicants have therefore been advised to carefully follow the deadlines after each stage of the process. In particular, candidates who pass the e-sign test will need to arrange their road test within 24 hours, while those who successfully complete the road test will have seven days to pay the fee after issuance of the PSID.

The revised procedure is now applicable under the directions issued by the Punjab Traffic Police authorities, with all districts required to ensure uniform implementation.