Holders of Pakistani driver licence in Victoria are left high and dry in their attempt to get an Australian driver licence as the state’s transport authority, VicRoads, seeks “high level of trust” from Pakistan High Commission to verify authenticity of their documents.
VicRoads has refused many Australian permanent residents, who have migrated from Pakistan, a chance to appear in the driving exam that would give them full licence.
Instead, they have been asked to get a learner permit as VicRoads can’t determine whether their Pakistani licence is genuine.
VicRoads Executive Director of Registration & Licensing David Shelton has accepted that verification is taking several weeks.
“Pakistan is an interesting case, largely because there is no consistent licensing document that is coming from Pakistan and only about a third of licences can be verified by us online,” Mr Shelton tells .
“So that means we do need to run a fairly significant back office processes and because there is variability in the quality of the documents and the licensing practices, quite often is the case that we cannot verify it at all.”
(In case of Pakistan), we have found some fraudulent letters, not that High Commissions have issued them but people have made up those letters themselves
One way to overcome this delay is to contact the Pakistan High Commission and get them verify the licences, which is usually the case when VicRoads has to verify documents from other countries.
However, the transport body is finding it hard to trust the official representative of Government of Pakistan after it found some fraudulent letters issued under the name of the High Commission.
If an individual has engaged in any fraudulent activity, you can’t cite it as an excuse to challenge any government’s authority
“We have had instances where we had letters of authority from the High Commission for licence documents that we have subsequently found to be fraudulent, and we have also had fraudulent letters from High Commissions (other than Pakistan),” Mr Shelton explains.
“(In case of Pakistan), we have found some fraudulent letters, not that High Commissions have issued them but people have made up those letters themselves.”
Strong rebuttal from Pakistan High Commission
However, Pakistan High Commissioner Naela Chohan has strongly disputed VicRoads’ stance, saying governments all over the world should respect each other’s credibility.
“If an individual has engaged in any fraudulent activity, you can’t cite it as an excuse to challenge any government’s authority,” Ms Chohan reacts.
The Pakistan High Commissioner maintains that her department has previously worked with VicRoads and even helped find out whether any given document was authentic or not.
“We have done that in the past and I see no reason why they have trust issues now,” Ms Chohan opines.
Letter issued by Pakistan High Commission confirming the authenticity of a driving licence Source: Rizwan Sheerazi
“We are the authority, we are here to do our job, I am representing the government of Pakistan.”
Why verification is needed?
As per policies of VicRoads, holders of an Australian permanent visa may drive on their overseas driver license if it is written in English or accompanied by an English translation or international driving permit for six months from the date they first entered Australia or six months from the date when the permanent visa was issued (if visa was issued while they are in Australia).
Verification process and VicRoads’ concerns
People coming from Pakistan already take significant measures to ensure their driver licence can be verified in Australia.
The Pakistan High Commission’s website clearly states that the licences “should first be verified from the licence issuing authorities in Pakistan by obtaining an NOC/Verification letter from them and thereafter have them attested from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad (the country’s capital) or its Camp Offices at Karachi, Lahore, Peshawar & Quetta and thereafter sent to High Commission or Consulate General (in Sydney) for attestation in original).”
The applicants also have to fill the statuary declaration signed by Notary Public or J.P.
The processing time is five working days if all the required documents are satisfactory and genuine, as per the website.
We require they (Pakistan High Commission) demonstrate that they have done the checks with the licence issuing authority in the country of origin and we have had some variability on that
But VicRoads is attempting to directly contact the licence issuing authority instead of approaching the High Commission because they don’t think this process is credible.
“In the event we go there (to High Commission), we also require that they demonstrate that they have done the checks with the licence issuing authority in the country of origin and we have had some variability on that,” Mr Shelton says
No solution in sight
The Pakistani High Commissioner has questioned VicRoads’ modus operandi while assuring their process is credible.
“Whichever authorities VicRoads will contact back in Pakistan to verify the document, we would be in touch with the same people,” Ms Chohan argues.
“If anything, our process is quicker.”
But VicRoads is only going to move forward when it has “high level of trust” in the process.
“What I would be interested in here is following the links back to the originating document, the originating decision that actually issued the driver’s licene in the first place. And if indeed the Pakistani HC can satisfy me that they understand that link and they can assure us that it’s good then we can start to talk about alternative processes I think,” Mr Shelton maintains.
Learner permit not an option
Meanwhile, most people who are affected by this have refused to obtain a learner permit because they believe it is their right to appear in a driving test that can get them full licence. Here’s what they have to say.
I am not asking you (VicRoads) to give me a licence just because I have a license from Pakistan; I am willing to appear in a driving test
Ali*: “I am not going to go for a learner permit. I have been driving for years and it is unfair to be asked to get a learner permit. This way, It will be years before I get full license and I reject it.”
Salman*: “I have been driving in Victoria for last four years (previously on temporary visa) with very clear driving history and now they are forcing me to go for learner permit at the age of thirty and more than ten years of driving experience including four in Victoria. That’s totally unfair.”
Qamar*: “I am not asking you (VicRoads) to give me a licence just because I have a license from Pakistan; I am willing to appear in a driving test.”
*Names have been changed because sources did not wish to be identified
Name and shame
Although VicRoads and Pakistan High Commission can’t see eye to eye when it comes to establishing credibility of the verification process, both of them believe that fraudulent activities of some have affected a majority.
“Sadly, there are people in our community who have used fraudulent ways because of which others are suffering too,” Ms Chohan laments.
“People should avoid taking shortcuts and not do something illegal. See the repercussions now. The community should also catch and shame them and highlight such issues so no one would dare to do that in future.”
Mr Shelton agrees.
“I think it is interesting to note that there are certain people who will deliberately seek to defraud the system in order to get their driving licence and then there are simply some people who get caught up in the process which requires us to verify their documents in an environment where documents are not easily verified, and we are just trying to find the best solution for it.”
Both VicRoads and Pakistan High Commission are in talks to resolve this issue.
Classic case
There are a few lucky ones who have been able to have their licence verified.
Rizwan Sheerazi, who arrived in Australia in October last year as a permanent resident, is one of them.
He booked a knowledge test with VicRoads in November. When he went to give the test the staff asked for his overseas licence for verification and then allowed him to appear in the test.
After clearing the test he went to Pakistan for a month and came back in January to proceed with the next stage of the testing process by booking a hazard perception test.
He cleared that test in second attempt, and then asked to be registered for the final driving test.
“The staff asked for my overseas licence again when I sought to be registered for the final test,” Mr Sheerazi recalls.
“I told the staff that my licence had already been checked when I booked my first test in November, but they told me that the rules had changed.”
The staff took his licence and VicRoads informed him after more than a month that his licence couldn’t be verified.
Source: Rizwan Sheerazi
“Unfortunately, the licence you presented cannot be verified as original document issued by the driver licensing authority. Therefore, we are unable to recognise your previous driving experience as part of your application for a Victorian driver licence,” the letter from VicRoads read.
He then acquired some additional documentation and submitted a review request with VicRoads in March.
VicRoads contacted him in July and informed that the licence issuing authority in Pakistan had confirmed authenticity of his licence and hence he was then declared eligible to appear in the final drive test without needing to acquire a learner permit.