ISLAMABAD: Authorities have installed m-tag readers and cameras at 11 and 14 points, respectively, in the federal capital.
Talking to media, police officers said the readers and cameras were installed under the supervision of the Safe City Authority to read the tags being installed on vehicles by FWO under the facilitation of the capital administration.
The officers said so far m-tag readers and cameras have been installed at Adventure Inn Garden Avenue, Gandum (wheat) Godown on I.J.P. Road, Faizabad, Nadra Headquarters, N5 Margalla Iran Avenue, Bari Imam, T-Cross, Marriott Hotel, D-Chowk, G-14 N-5 entry, Zero Point and Ninth Avenue. Besides, cameras are also installed at Foreign Office, Bhara Kahu Bridge and E-9 entry.
The readers and cameras are linked with the Safe City Authority and are fixed at the newly-installed poles at these points to read and scan the m-tags and registration plates of vehicles. All the cameras are also online except the ones installed at the E-9 entry at PAF.
Devices are linked with Safe City Authority and fixed on newly-installed poles at entry and other points
The officers said the readers and cameras will scan the m-tags and registration plates of vehicles. In case of a mismatch, the technology will issue an alert. Besides, these will also identify vehicles plying without a tag.
It may mentioned that talking to media outside the Judicial Complex after a suicide attack there on November 11, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi had said no vehicle would be allowed entry into Islamabad without an e-tag after two weeks.
On November 13, Minister of State for Interior Senator Talal Chaudhry also told a press conference outside Parliament House alongside Inspector General of Police Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi that it would be mandatory for all vehicles in the city to have e-tags. There will be no vehicle in Islamabad without m-tag, also called e-tag, so every movement of a vehicle can be monitored.
The officers added that approximately 400,000 to 500,000 vehicles moved on roads of the capital and a large number of others entered the city from other cities and towns, including Rawalpindi.
Earlier, the authorities had decided to install automatic barriers at the key points which will open after scanning m-tags. In this regard, a week ago, the capital police installed speed breakers on the Expressway at the entry point at Faizabad to check and calculate the time taken by a vehicle while passing the barrier. However, it resulted in a massive gridlock at the point beyond the capability of the traffic police to handle and manage the situation.
The congestion at the busy artery created chaos on all main roads in Islamabad. So the idea to install barriers was dropped. However, the department concerned is working on other options to make the m-tag installation on vehicles fully supportive and not to allow entry of vehicles without it.
Some police officers have already told their seniors and other authorities that any move to slow down vehicles at the entry and other main points and roads will create chaos and congestion in the city. However, without installing barriers, the objective of making m-tags mandatory will not be fulfilled.
M-tags are linked with the Safe City Authority Islamabad for surveillance and monitoring of vehicles moving in the capital. This step empowers the authority to identify and separate vehicles of residents which commute in Islamabad on a daily basis and regularly from other parts of the country.
Vehicle number plats can be replaced and fake and forged plates can also be used. However, fake or forged m-tags will not be readable. The original tag carries details of the owner and the vehicle.
The e-tag project was first introduced in the capital in 2013 on the direction of then Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan to facilitate the residents of Islamabad and Rawalpindi in hassle-free movement in the twin cities. Besides, it would address security related issues as the tags were issued to people and vehicles only after their verification.
Later in 2017, authorities concerned tested a radio frequency identification device (RFID) and, in this regard, scanners were also installed at the entry points of the city and the Red Zone. The RFID was one of the features of Safe City Project and being put in place in the capital at that time.
Published in media, December 17th, 2025
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