If the person selling a car is living abroad, you may not need a power of attorney any more. Punjab and Islamabad now use the PAK-ID app, where an overseas owner confirms identity with biometrics and Face ID. The old route, a power of attorney from the embassy, is described as abolished in Punjab, but older guides still tell people to use it. Here is what the sources say, step by step, and what they do not confirm.
The Short Answer
- Punjab: The overseas owner verifies through the PAK-ID app. Dawn (17 February 2026) says overseas owners no longer need to visit embassies, submit attested affidavits or execute a power of attorney for this.
- Islamabad: Express Tribune (2 November 2025) says overseas Pakistanis can register and transfer vehicles using the PakID app, with no embassy visit or power of attorney.
- Other provinces: I found no current rule. See the section below.
Before You Buy: Check the Car
Check the vehicle’s record with the Excise department first. See our guide on how to check a car’s excise record before buying used. Make sure the seller named on the record is the person who is abroad, and that token tax and challans are clear. Outstanding token tax and challans block a transfer, according to ABN AMRO’s guide (early 2026).
Punjab: How the Online Transfer Works
Dawn says the Punjab Excise and Taxation Department launched the PAK-ID app, built with NADRA and the Punjab Information Technology Board. The steps it describes are:
- The owner, in Pakistan or abroad, does biometric and Face ID verification on the mobile app from home. Face ID helps older people whose fingerprints have faded.
- The transfer fee is paid through the E-Pay system, which is cashless and paperless.
- Once verification and payment are complete, the transfer is finalised within 48 hours, according to Dawn.
Dawn quotes the Director General as saying all manual, alternate and embassy-based verification methods were abolished. The article does not say how the buyer takes part, what documents are needed or what the fee is.
Islamabad: PakID for Overseas Pakistanis
Express Tribune says the Islamabad Excise and Taxation Department launched the facility for overseas Pakistanis. Users download the PakID app and record their biometrics, and the department handles the transfer. The biometric record serves as proof of identity, so a separate Transfer Order form is not needed. The seller must still sign a transfer letter and give it to the buyer. The article does not mention fees or limits.
What the Buyer Still Needs
ABN AMRO Pakistan’s Punjab guide lists documents for a normal transfer. It was written before or around these changes, so check each item with the Excise office:
- The original registration book or smart card.
- Original CNICs and photocopies of both parties.
- A signed sale agreement, notarised if possible.
- Token tax and challan clearance.
- The transfer fee receipt.
- An NOC from the leasing company, if the car was leased.
- The buyer’s photographs.
The registration book must reach you from the seller. A seller abroad can send it with a trusted person or by courier. A lost book needs a duplicate first. See our guide on how to apply for a duplicate vehicle registration book.
ABN AMRO lists approximate Punjab transfer fees: motorcycles Rs500 to 2,000, small cars Rs2,000 to 5,000 and larger vehicles Rs5,000 to 10,000 or more. It says to confirm the exact amount at the Excise office.
The Older Route: Power of Attorney
Before the app, the usual advice was a power of attorney. A 2020 post on the PakWheels forum, written as the poster’s belief and not confirmed, says:
- The owner signs a power of attorney naming a trusted person in Pakistan.
- The document is attested at the Pakistani embassy where the owner lives.
- Once in Pakistan, the person must register it with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
ABN AMRO’s Punjab guide also says the standard process needs the seller in person and mentions power of attorney exceptions for overseas sellers without details. These accounts conflict with Dawn’s report of the abolition, so they may be out of date or may apply to other provinces. If you are told to use a power of attorney, ask the Excise office whether the app can be used instead.
If the Seller Cannot Use the App
The sources do not say what to do if an overseas owner has no smartphone, has no NADRA record or is not able to do the Face ID check. They also do not say what happens if the owner has died or is not cooperating. ABN AMRO says that if a seller refuses to cooperate, a civil court can order a transfer based on the sale agreement, but this is slow and costs lawyer fees. Ask the Excise office and a lawyer.
Other Provinces
Dawn says online verification across all four provinces will link provincial vehicle data at the national level. I did not find a current overseas transfer procedure for Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa or Balochistan. Ask your Excise office.
Protect Yourself
- Do not pay the full price until the transfer is complete, or use a written agreement that says when you pay.
- Never hand over money to a “friend” of the seller without a written sale agreement.
- Check MTMIS again after the transfer to confirm that your name is the owner.
- Download the app only from the official Play Store or App Store. Do not share OTPs or biometric codes with anyone.
This advice is general, not from the sources above.
What I Could Not Confirm
- The exact steps for the buyer and seller in the app, and what the seller must upload.
- The current fee for Punjab and Islamabad.
- Whether the power of attorney is still accepted anywhere.
- The rules for Sindh, KP and Balochistan.
- Whether the seller’s biometric check works without a NADRA-registered mobile number.
I could not open the Excise department websites or the app. This is general information, not legal advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a power of attorney if the seller is abroad?
Not for Punjab or Islamabad, according to Dawn and Express Tribune. The owner verifies through the PAK-ID or PakID app instead.
How long does a Punjab transfer take?
Within 48 hours after verification and payment, according to Dawn.
Does the seller still sign something?
Yes. In Islamabad, the seller must sign a transfer letter, according to Express Tribune.
How is the fee paid?
Through the E-Pay system in Punjab, according to Dawn.
What if the car is in another province?
I found no current rule. Ask the Excise office there.
What if the registration book is lost?
Get a duplicate first, according to ABN AMRO.
Ask the Excise office to confirm the current steps before you pay the seller.
