The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration has announced a major policy shift for traffic entering the federal capital. Starting from January 1, 2026, vehicles without an electronic M-Tag will be prohibited from entering Islamabad.
Mandate from the Top: New Rules for Entry
This decisive action is being taken on the direct instructions of Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. Deputy Commissioner Islamabad, Irfan Memon, confirmed the move, stating that authorities will take strict action against any vehicle found entering the city without the mandatory electronic tag. The system aims to streamline traffic management and enhance security surveillance at the city's entry points.
Implementation and Current Progress
To facilitate a smooth transition for the public, the administration has already set up 16 designated points across Islamabad for the issuance of M-Tags. The drive is seeing significant uptake; since the process began on November 14, close to 100,000 vehicles have already been fitted with the tags.
Tag readers have been installed at various entry points and check posts to identify non-compliant vehicles. Deputy Commissioner Memon clarified that this tag reader mechanism will become fully operational from the start of 2026, coinciding with the enforcement of the ban.
Beyond Traffic: The Vision for a Smart Capital
In a related development, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, during a visit to the Safe City headquarters, directed officials to accelerate work on the Capital Smart City project. He emphasized that basic civic facilities, including Rescue 1122, traffic management, and security systems, will be integrated into a central command under this initiative.
Naqvi outlined an ambitious vision, stating the project will serve as a model to make Islamabad the safest city. "The scope of the smart city will also be extended to the entire country," he added. The minister sought a comprehensive plan from concerned officials to transform the existing Islamabad Safe City system into the broader Capital Smart City framework.
During the visit, Inspector General of Police Islamabad, Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi, provided a detailed briefing on the transition. The interior minister also reviewed the current monitoring system and inspected security surveillance at the special Chinese desk in the control room.
