Islamabad Excise Department Launches Digital Vehicle Services and Personalized Plates

ISLAMABAD: The Islamabad Excise and Taxation Department has announced a series of digital reforms aimed at streamlining vehicle registration, ownership transfer, and tax payment processes, which include the introduction of personalized number plates, digital vehicle cards, and an upgraded mobile application for tax payments. This initiative, revealed in an exclusive interview with APP on Sunday, is designed to enhance service efficiency and accessibility for citizens.

Director of the Excise and Taxation Department, Bilal Azam, emphasized the department's commitment to improving vehicle-related services. The reforms encompass various aspects such as vehicle registration, ownership transfers, and token tax payments, all of which are expected to facilitate citizens, whether through direct service or online platforms. Azam stated, "Through digital services like the Islamabad Citizen App, people can conveniently pay their token tax from home, reducing the need to visit offices." This shift not only enhances tax recovery efforts but also improves overall service delivery.

A significant component of the new reforms is the introduction of personalized number plates, a first for Pakistan. Azam explained that under this system, registration numbers will be linked to the vehicle owner instead of the vehicle itself. This means that when a car is sold, the number plate will remain with the previous owner, who will return it upon sale. The new owner will subsequently receive a fresh number plate associated with their identity. "This move will ensure that no vehicle can remain unregistered after a sale, even for a single day," he added. The personalized number plates are anticipated to enhance vehicle tracking for law enforcement agencies, thus improving ownership tracing and data access for managing electronic challans.

In addition to the number plates, the department plans to digitize vehicle registration cards, transitioning from physical smart cards to downloadable digital versions accessible through the user’s Pak-ID account. Azam noted that this aligns with the digital issuance protocols similar to those used for national identity cards by NADRA. The process for vehicle sales will also be simplified, with sellers able to submit online applications through the app, which will eventually support biometric verification via mobile devices, negating the need for physical office visits.

To encourage timely payments, the Islamabad Excise Department is offering a 10% rebate for token tax payments made in July. Azam pointed out that many vehicles registered from the 1980s and 1990s lack token tax records. In response, the department has developed a systematic policy to handle such cases, which includes imposing penalties on owners who have not paid taxes for two to three years. A 50% penalty is applicable for such delays, and a 100% penalty for longer lapses.

The department has previously launched the "City Islamabad" app to simplify various services, including token tax payments. This app, available for both Android and iPhone, generates a Payment Slip ID (PSID) for users to facilitate online payments. The app distinguishes between filer and non-filer citizens to apply the appropriate tax rates.

With approximately 1.42 million vehicles registered under its jurisdiction, the Excise Department is facing challenges in managing such a high volume of transactions manually. The digitization of services is expected to alleviate this burden significantly by enabling remote transactions and reducing congestion at excise offices.

Furthermore, the transition from physical smart cards to fully digital vehicle cards is set to launch soon, integrating with NADRA’s Pak-ID system. This shift will allow vehicle owners to download their digital registration cards directly, streamlining the entire registration process.

The Excise Department is also focused on identifying inactive vehicles and imposing penalties on their owners, as part of a broader initiative to maintain accurate records. Azam concluded that the introduction of personalized number plates, digital vehicle cards, and online tax payment systems represents a significant evolution in vehicle management processes in the capital. With these reforms, citizens can expect faster, more transparent, and convenient services, reducing reliance on outdated manual processes.