Smart License Data Safe Despite Fire at Transport Department

Despite the recent fire at the Department of Transport Management in Minbhawan during the Gen-Z protests, officials have assured that smart license data remains safe.

According to department staff, the backup system has preserved the data, making it possible to recover records and resume services.

The fire, which broke out on September 8 and 9, destroyed all embossed number records, the printing machine, and nearly 600,000 smart licenses out of the 1.2 million already printed. However, the remaining 600,000 printed licenses stored for distribution were saved.

During a cleanup program at the office on Friday morning, Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport, Kulman Ghising, was briefed that the data could be restored. He said coordination would be made with the Department of National ID and Civil Registration to use its printing machines for issuing licenses in urgent cases, especially for those traveling abroad.

The department further stated that around 2.5 million smart licenses are still pending printing, and preparations are underway to call a tender for the required materials.