Driving License Service Down Across Punjab — Citizens Face Major Delays

The Punjab Driving License Management System (DLIMS) and its connected platforms experienced a province-wide outage, disrupting nearly all driving-licence services in major cities including Lahore, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Multan, Gujranwala, and surrounding districts.

The outage affected:

• Online licence issuance
• Licence renewal processing
• Learner permit services
• Test slot booking
• Biometric verification counters
• Digital verification portal
• e-payment integration
• Data syncing with Safe City cameras

The sudden shutdown caused crowds at licensing centers, failed online bookings, and significant delays for citizens who had urgent licence needs.

What Caused the System Failure

According to officials, the outage occurred during deployment of backend updates connected to:

• New fee structure implementation
• Digital transformation modules
• Security and verification upgrades
• Enhanced integrations between DLIMS and Safe City systems

During the update, a critical server-side malfunction occurred, forcing a system-wide shutdown across both web platforms and physical service counters.

Authorities confirmed:

• No database or citizen data loss occurred
• The issue is purely technical
• Restoration work is ongoing

How Citizens Are Being Affected

1. Online Token Booking Blocked

Applicants attempting to book testing slots or renew licences online received repeated errors:

• “Server not responding”
• “Unable to process request”
• “Internal system error”

This pushed many citizens to physically visit licensing centers — only to discover that services were unavailable.

2. Long Queues Outside License Centers

Across major cities, hundreds gathered outside centers early morning, unaware of the outage. On-site staff confirmed:

• No tokens being issued
• Driving tests suspended
• Biometric machines offline
• Licence printing halted

This caused widespread confusion and frustration.

3. Expiry-Deadline Pressure

Applicants with urgent needs have been most impacted:

• Job applicants requiring valid licences
• Citizens needing International Driving Permits (IDP) for travel
• Courier and delivery riders needing active licence verification
• Commercial drivers completing job compliance checks

These groups are currently unable to proceed with their applications.

Official Statement from Authorities

The Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA) and Punjab Police IT Wing confirmed in their initial briefing:

• A major technical fault has occurred in the DLIMS backend
• Emergency restoration teams are working around the clock
• All modules (payments, biometrics, booking systems) are being reset and reintegrated
• Citizens are requested not to visit licensing centers until further updates are issued

Officials also stressed:

• No citizen data has been lost
• Past outages were resolved within 12–24 hours

When Will Services Resume?

No exact restoration time has been announced, but officials indicated that recovery includes:

• Server rebooting
• Database re-indexing
• Module reintegration
• Synchronization with Safe City cameras
• Payment gateway revalidation

Based on previous incidents:

• Partial services may return within 6–12 hours
• Full functional restore may require up to 24 hours

Citizens are advised to rely only on official updates from PSCA and Punjab Police channels before visiting any centers.

What Applicants Should Do Right Now

Until services resume:

Do NOT visit licensing centers

All operations are currently suspended — physical visits will result in wasted time.

Prepare documents for fast processing once services return

Keep these ready:

• CNIC
• Old driving license (for renewal)
• Passport (for IDP)
• Medical certificate if required
• Digital fee payment information

Stay updated via official sources

Regularly check:

• Punjab Police social media channels
• PSCA official announcements
• DLIMS website homepage
• Local verified news outlets

Apply early once restored

Expect backlog pressure when services resume — apply or book slots as soon as online services go live again.

Impact on Delivery & Commercial Drivers

The outage is significantly affecting gig-economy riders and professional drivers.

Services affected:

• New rider onboarding halted
• Digital licence verification for platforms paused
• Some active riders facing temporary account holds
• International driving permit issuance blocked

Major platforms impacted:

• Foodpanda
• Careem Bike
• Bykea
• inDrive

Thousands of workers are experiencing earning disruptions until services return.

Future Upgrades After Restoration

Sources indicate the failure occurred during major upgrades connected to:

• New digital driving licence design
• QR-code based verification
• Enhanced security features
• Revised provincial fee structure
• Integration upgrades with:
  • NADRA verification systems
  • Safe City automated enforcement networks

Once properly stabilized, the new system is expected to be:

• More reliable
• Faster in processing
• Fully online integrated
• More resistant to fraud and cloning

However, authorities acknowledge that further system testing is required to prevent similar outages.

FAQs – Punjab Driving Licence System Outage 2025

1. Why is the driving licence service down across Punjab?

A server malfunction occurred during major system updates affecting DLIMS infrastructure and integrations.

2. How long until the system is fixed?

Authorities estimate anywhere from a few hours to a full day, depending on technical stabilization.

3. Should I visit a licensing center now?

No. All counters, biometrics, tests, and printing services are suspended during the outage.

4. Will renewal deadlines be extended?

No official extension has been announced yet. Authorities may consider relief if downtime continues.

5. Is DLIMS website working?

The site loads, but all processing services are currently non-functional.

Conclusion

The Punjab-wide DLIMS outage has halted nearly every driving-licence service, affecting thousands of citizens and gig-economy workers. While no data loss has occurred, system stabilization is still underway.

For now:

• Avoid licensing centers
• Prepare documents
• Monitor official announcements
• Apply as soon as services resume

Authorities are expected to publish a restoration notice once all systems are fully operational.