The federal government has extended the deadline for mandatory installation of M Tags on vehicles in Islamabad by 15 days, providing temporary relief to motorists who have yet to comply with the requirement. The decision was announced on January 1 during a media briefing at the newly inaugurated Shaheen Chowk underpass in the federal capital.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said the extension was granted on the request of the minister of state for interior, adding that the move was aimed at facilitating citizens and ensuring smoother implementation. He reiterated that the M Tag system is a key component of Islamabad’s broader security and traffic management strategy.

Earlier, the government had declared that vehicles without M Tags would not be allowed to enter Islamabad from January 1 as part of enhanced security measures. However, authorities acknowledged the need for additional time to allow wider public participation in the registration process.

According to the Islamabad Capital Territory administration, 16 M Tag facilitation centres have been set up across the city to streamline issuance. Since November 14, nearly 100,000 vehicles have been issued M Tags by December 29, reflecting growing public response to the initiative.

Officials confirmed that after January 15, vehicles without M Tags will be identified through electronic tag readers installed at major entry points and checkpoints. The same technology is already in use on motorways, where vehicles without M Tags are charged additional toll fees to encourage adoption of cashless systems.

The interior minister also stated that the Capital Smart City and Safe City projects will be completed in 2026. These projects aim to integrate traffic control, Rescue 1122, security surveillance and Capital Development Authority services into a centralised system. Mohsin Naqvi emphasised that advanced technology and institutional reforms are essential to making Islamabad a model smart and secure city for the rest of the country.