More positions on social media claim that the Punjab government has increased registration fees for motorcycles, electric bicycles, weapons licenses, new electricity connections for homes and water taxes for farmers.
Some of these claims are false, while others are misleading.
Assertion
On April 16, a user on social media on Facebook published a message in Urdu who claimed that the Punjab government had raised several fees:
- Motorcycle registration fees rose from RS1.500 to RS7,400
- Registration of electric bicycle from RS50 to RS2.865
- ARMS LICENSE FEADS FROM RS4,000 TO RS48,000
- New domestic electricity connection from RS7,600 to RS24,000
- Annual irrigation fees (ABIANA) for farmers from RS600 per year. Acre for RS2,200 per Acre
- Motorcycle Fitness Certificate fee will be RS1,000 from July 1
The claims for increased fees for weapons licenses, motorcycle registration, fitness certificates, water taxes and electricity connections are incorrectly represented. Here’s what we confirmed:
ARMS LICENSERS – RS48,000?
Tausef Sabih Gondal, spokesman for Punjab -Home Department, told GEO FACT CHECK These weapons licenses have not been issued since April 2024 due to an ongoing ban.
He added that since no new licenses have been issued, the fee has not changed either.
While the online post claims that the new fee is RS48,000, Gondal clarified that before the ban (under the caretaker government in 2023), the fee was actually RS50,000, not RS48,000.
Motorcycle registration fee RS7,400?
Amber Jabeen, spokesman for Punjab’s Finance, Excise and Tax Minister, told GEO FACT CHECK That no suggestion to increase motorcycle or electric bicycle registration fees is discussed.
She also shared a message from Umer Sher, the Director General of the Point Department and the Tax Department, which called online requirements “speculation.”
While ASIM Amin, the director of enforcement and revision in Lahores’ point department, shared the official registration fee structure for motorcycles:
- Up to 70cc: RS1,000
- 71cc to 100cc: RS1.500
- 101cc to 125cc: RS2,000
- 126cc to 150cc: RS2,500
- Over 150cc: 2% of the value of the motorcycle
Website can be accessed here.
Thus, there was no fixed rate on RS7,400.
Amin also said that electric bikes are currently receiving an exemption of 95% in both token tax and registration fees.
Motorcycle fitness certificates – RS1,000?
A spokesman from Punjab Vehicle Inspection and Certification System (Vics) told GEO FACT CHECK That no official report on the collection of RS1,000 has been issued for motorcycle fitness certificates.
She added that it has not yet been confirmed if motorcycles even need fitness certificates as the Vics have not received any orders to inspect them.
GEO FACT CHECK Also review the Regulation on Provincial Vehicles (amendments) 2025, adopted on March 4, and found that motorcycles are not included in the list of vehicles requiring fitness certification.
Irrigation water fees – RS2.200 per Acre
Rao Muhammad Sohail Akhtar, Deputy Secretary of Punjab Irrigation Department, denied the claim. He said no changes have been made to water speeds since December 5, 2023.
He also shared the announcement from December 2023 showing:
- Prices range from RS400 to RS2,000 per Acre, depending on the crop
- However, for state -owned lift irrigation, the rate was RS2,250 per year. Acre
New Electricity Connection – RS24,000
Muhammad Saeed Raza, Public Relations Officer at Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (Fesco), told GEO FACT CHECK That the claim of a flat RS24,000 fee is inaccurate.
Current official rates were:
- En -phase (3 kw) meters: RS11.000 + RS3,660 SAFETY DEVELOPMENT
- Three-phase (5 kw) Meter: RS40,000 + RS6,100 Safety Deposit
Judgment The allegations of increased fees for weapons licenses, motorcycle registration, fitness certificates, irrigation water and electricity compounds are false or misleading. Official sources confirm that these fees have not been increased as required online.
