A case of administrative negligence has emerged at the **Punjab Traffic Police Driving Licence Branch in **Multan, where a man applying for his licence was astonished to discover that the document issued to him carried a woman’s photograph instead of his own. The affected individual, Asghar Sawal, said he completed the required training and driving test in 2025 and paid the standard fee, only to be shocked when the incorrect photo appeared on the official licence upon receipt.
Sawal, who is currently residing in **Karachi for work, said repeated travel to Multan to address the issue is difficult. When he contacted the licence branch to report the error, officials allegedly held him responsible for the mistake and said he would need to pay an additional Rs650 to correct the photo. He was also told the revision could take up to four months despite the error originating within the department itself.
The incident has raised serious concerns about data management, record accuracy and accountability within the traffic police licensing system, given that a driving licence also serves as an official identity document. Sawal has appealed to the Inspector General of Punjab Police to intervene and order an immediate correction without additional charges.