The Sindh government has introduced a new rule requiring pre-license driving training for anyone seeking a driving license in the province.
The decision was made during the 50th meeting of the Public-Private Partnership Policy Board chaired by Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah.
The board approved multiple initiatives in the education, transport, and tourism sectors, with a major focus on improving road safety and professional driving standards.
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Under the new rule, applicants for Heavy Transport Vehicle (HTV) and Light Transport Vehicle (LTV) licenses must complete certified pre-licensing training from recognized institutions before licensing authorities can process their applications.
The government has approved the establishment of HTV and LTV driver training schools under a public-private partnership framework.
Initially, training centers will be set up at four STEVTA institutions: Government College of Technology (SITE), Karachi; Government Polytechnic College, Dadu; Government Vocational Training Institute, Sukkur; and Government Institute of Business and Commercial Education, Naushero Feroze.
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Each center will provide comprehensive training and licensing services, including multimedia classrooms, computer-based theory labs, HTV and LTV simulators, practice yards, on-road training, on-site licensing desks, workshops, and safety facilities. Larger facilities are planned in Karachi to meet higher demand.
The project aims to train and license 100,000 drivers over five years – 62,500 LTV and 37,500 HTV – with nearly half coming from Karachi. Transaction advisory firms will be hired to ensure regulatory compliance, in coordination with the Home Department, Traffic Police, and licensing authorities.
Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said the initiative will provide internationally standardized driver training to improve employment opportunities abroad, responding to growing demand in Europe, Australia, China, Turkey, and the GCC.
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Pakistan’s transport sector contributes 10–13% to GDP and employs over 4.1 million people, but Sindh’s share in driver exports remains just two percent.
The CM also instructed authorities to expedite the Marble City Karachi project, emphasizing that delays will not be tolerated.
The new driver training program is part of Sindh’s broader strategy to enhance road safety, professional standards, and global employability of its workforce.
