Business Desk 
Jul 29, 2025
In a significant move to revolutionise Islamabad, the Excise and Taxation Department is introducing advanced technology to combat car theft, counterfeit number plates, and fake ownership transfers.
Notably, this modernisation effort includes the launch of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags on car windscreens, which will serve as an extra “third number plate” alongside the front and rear ones.
Each RFID tag will contain unique vehicle data, enabling instant tracking and verification.
Excise and Taxation Department Director Bilal Azam stated that the new RFID-enabled system will be linked directly with the Safe City surveillance network, ensuring prompt identification and tracking of stolen or suspicious vehicles.
Azam said: “Right now, we install two number plates, front and rear. We are going to introduce the concept of a third number plate with an RFID tag on the windscreen. This tag will link vehicle data with Safe City cameras, making tracking and monitoring possible in real time.”
Notably, the RFID vehicle tagging system promotes public safety, reinforces road law compliance, and brings transparency to the vehicle registration and transfer process.
Alongside RFID integration, Islamabad is also changing traditional car registration papers with digital vehicle cards.
These smart cards will contain all key vehicle information and can be easily downloaded through "PakID" or saved to a mobile wallet.
“Your card will be downloaded on your Pak ID. You can also add it to your mobile wallet. If you sell the vehicle, the biometric verification and electronic consent process will make transfers safer and faster,” Azam explained.
To crack down on fake ownership transfers and forged documentation, the department is also releasing an electronic approval system backed by biometric authentication.
With a smart digital card plan, vehicle owners will be able to pay parking fees by digital cards, while the system will also help monitor token taxes and boost traffic law enforcement using automation.
