Islamabad Introduces High-Tech Number Plates to Prevent Car Theft

In a significant step towards modernizing vehicle security, Islamabad’s Excise and Taxation Department is introducing high-tech third number plates to curb car theft in the capital.

Speaking about the new system, Excise Director Bilal Azam revealed that these special tracking tags, dubbed “third number plates,” will be attached to every registered vehicle. Unlike standard number plates, these digital tags cannot be removed or replaced without detection.

Safe City Cameras Will Track Stolen Cars in Real Time

The biggest advantage of these third number plates is their integration with Islamabad’s Safe City surveillance system. If a vehicle is stolen, the plate’s unique ID will still be picked up by Safe City cameras, enabling authorities to locate the car instantly—even if its original plates are swapped out by thieves.

“This technology ensures that stolen cars can be easily tracked and recovered,” said Azam. “These third number plates are tamper-proof and visible to our entire Safe City network.”

Digital Ownership Transfer and Biometric Verification

The new system goes beyond theft prevention. To make vehicle transfers easier and more secure, the Excise Department is rolling out a digital vehicle transfer system.

Using mobile apps with facial recognition and biometric verification, vehicle owners can transfer car ownership from their smartphones. This paperless process removes the need for time-consuming in-person visits and paperwork.

Fighting Fake Number Plates and Tax Evasion

The third number plates will also help catch vehicles with fake number plates or unpaid taxes. The Safe City cameras will automatically flag suspicious vehicles, sending alerts to authorities in real time.

Director Bilal Azam highlighted the department’s digital transformation success, noting that the Excise Department collected a record Rs. 23.34 billion in taxes last year, thanks to digital tools and online services.

Towards a Smarter, Safer Islamabad

The introduction of Islamabad’s third number plates represents a major technological upgrade for vehicle security in Pakistan’s capital.

By combining advanced tracking, biometric verification, and digital ownership transfers, the Excise Department aims to make car theft a thing of the past—while providing citizens with faster, safer services.

With these efforts, Islamabad is setting an example for other cities to follow in the fight against vehicle-related crime and fraud.

Afsheen Gohar

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