Motorcyclists queue for M-Tag installation at Kachnar Park. Photo: APP
ISLAMABAD:
The federal capital’s decision to make M-Tag registration for motorcycles mandatory has sparked growing public frustration, with motorcyclists questioning both the timing and clarity of the policy as long queues form outside registration centers during Ramadan.
Authorities have set up 13 M-Tag registration points in Islamabad, requiring motorcyclists to obtain the electronic tag (previously used mainly for cars) as part of what officials describe as a broader campaign to improve safety monitoring and streamline vehicle registration management.
However, several citizens who visited the centers this week said the implementation has been marred by confusion, procedural difficulties and insufficient public communication.
Outside several facilities, passengers reported long wait times while fasting, with some wondering why the initiative was not introduced in phases or postponed until after Ramadan.
“There is no clear information on what exactly the label will do for motorcycles,” said one traveler who had been waiting for more than an hour. “If this is a security measure, authorities should explain how it will differ from existing controls.”
Female passengers and elderly applicants were also seen queuing in the same queues, with no dedicated facilitation counters or appointment-based system.
Officials maintain that extending M-Tags to motorcycles is aimed at strengthening vehicle traceability and supporting law enforcement. Islamabad police and security checks at entry points already involve verification of national identity cards, driving licenses and vehicle documentation.
Several citizens questioned what additional benefit the new system would offer beyond these measures. “We already presented our documents at the checkpoints,” said a passenger on I-9. “How will this label improve safety in practical terms?”
While M-Tags are widely used on cars to facilitate payment of tolls and regulate access to highways, drivers said authorities have yet to clarify whether toll charges would be automatically applied to motorcycles or if the tags serve solely for tracking and documentation purposes.
A major obstacle appears to arise from documentation requirements. According to officials at the registration centres, M-Tags are issued only when the registered owner is physically present and the motorcycle bears its original registration number along with complete documentation.
Those responsible for the center recognized that many motorcycles in the capital are registered in the names of relatives or have not been formally transferred to their current users. This has caused delays, as applicants are instructed to complete ownership transfers before obtaining the label, a process some describe as “long and expensive.”
“For families where the motorcycle is registered to a relative or owned by someone living abroad, the requirement creates unnecessary complications,” said another motorcyclist.
Although the installation fee is Rs 250, several motorcyclists argued that even minor physical modifications could affect the resale value, particularly for high-end motorcycles.
“Even small modifications can reduce the resale price,” said a motorcycle owner at the Malpur registration centre. “If the policy is mandatory, such costs should have been incorporated into existing excise taxes or registration charges.”
Others expressed concern about the physical security of the tag itself, noting that motorcycles lack enclosed interiors where electronic devices can be safely installed.
Despite official assurances that the initiative aims to simplify documentation and improve tracking, public awareness appears limited. No detailed public guidance has yet clarified operational aspects such as the applicability of tolls, penalties for non-compliance or data protection safeguards.
