Islamabad authorities have intensified efforts to facilitate vehicle owners as the January 15 deadline for mandatory M Tag compliance approaches, with more than 120000 vehicles already registered across the federal capital. To manage the growing number of applicants, additional staff have been deployed at M Tag registration centres while operational arrangements have been strengthened to ensure smoother processing. Officials say the increase in registrations reflects rising awareness among citizens as enforcement draws closer, prompting the administration to focus on reducing waiting times and improving service delivery at designated centres.
The M Tag system is a prepaid radio frequency identification sticker affixed to a vehicle’s windshield and designed to automate toll payments. Once installed, the tag allows scanners at toll plazas to identify the vehicle and record its entry point, with the toll amount automatically deducted from the linked balance upon exit. This digital mechanism removes the need for cash transactions and long queues, while also creating an electronic trail that supports monitoring and record keeping. Authorities have linked the initiative to broader objectives of traffic oversight and security, stating that vehicles without M Tags will not be allowed to enter Islamabad once enforcement begins on January 15, an extension provided to give owners sufficient time to comply.
With 12 days remaining before checks are enforced, officials report steady progress in the registration drive. According to the Excise and Taxation Department, a total of 120447 vehicles have been fitted with M Tags so far, including 3392 registrations completed within the last 24 hours. Director General Irfan Memon said arrangements at all centres had been enhanced to cope with the rising footfall as the deadline nears. He confirmed that additional staff have been assigned and adequate stocks of M Tags ensured to avoid shortages, allowing citizens to complete the process in a single visit. He added that while the extension offers reasonable time to comply, vehicles without M Tags will face action at 12 entry points into the city after January 15.
Enforcement will be supported by Safe City systems, which have completed the installation of M Tag readers at designated locations across Islamabad. Officials confirmed that the electronic readers are active and fully integrated with monitoring infrastructure to identify vehicles entering the city without valid tags. This setup is expected to strengthen compliance and improve traffic oversight by linking vehicle data with electronic surveillance systems. Authorities also noted that daily registration figures are increasing as awareness spreads, and further growth is anticipated in the coming days. As part of the facilitation process, citizens have been advised to bring the required documents to registration centres, including the vehicle registration card or book and the computerised national identity card of the owner. Officials highlighted that incomplete documentation remains a common cause of delays and urged applicants to prepare in advance rather than waiting until the final days, as last minute rushes could lead to longer queues despite expanded staffing.
Follow the SPIN IDG WhatsApp Channel for updates across the Smart Pakistan Insights Network covering all of Pakistan’s technology ecosystem.
