The Punjab Government has imposed a penalty of Rs 1,000 for delay in renewal of arms licenses. The penalty is the same for delay of one day or one year. I approached the postal authorities to renew my revolver license on April 1. They asked me to pay Rs 2,000 for renewal of my Pakistan made revolver, bought for Rs 200 several decades back. It is amazing that we have the same renewal fee for all weapons. Common sense dictated that the grace period should have been extended to April 1, as March 31, was a Sunday. Such heavy fine would repel people from renewing their arms license which can have many adverse effects in the long run. The government should extend the grace period and fix a variable rate of penalty that rises proportionately with period of delay.
J. MALIK,
Rawalpindi, April 4.