Under amendments to Motor Vehicles Ordinance, 1965, Punjab government has made route permits mandatory under Section 44B for drivers working with digital ride-hailing platforms, including InDrive, Uber and Yango. For thousands of captains who regularly transport passengers between neighbouring districts, a single permit will no longer be enough. Drivers also working on multiple ride-hailing apps will face another layer of compliance, as separate permits will be required for each platform. Transport experts and ride-hailing companies have urged the Punjab government to replace the district-wise licensing model with a single province-wide permit linked to drivers’ platform registrations. They argue such a system would allow effective regulation without forcing drivers to obtain multiple licences or restricting movement across Punjab.