Islamabad to become Pakistan’s first ‘capital smart city’; starting with mandatory e-tags

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Capital Islamabad is on track to become Pakistan’s first Capital Smart City, with federal authorities announcing major upgrades to the city’s safety and urban management systems.

Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said that from January 1, entry of vehicles without e-tags (commonly known as M-tags) will be banned in Islamabad, as part of a broader plan to integrate technology and ensure citizen safety.

Naqvi, along with Minister of State Talal Chaudhry, visited the Safe City Headquarters, where he reviewed the city’s monitoring system on the digital wall, inspected security surveillance including the special Chinese desk in the control room, and observed public order measures using modern technology.

Chairing an important meeting at the headquarters, Naqvi directed authorities to accelerate the work on Capital Smart City, which aims to integrate urban facilities such as Rescue 1122, traffic management, security, and CDMA into a centralized system. He said the project will serve as a model to make Islamabad the safest city in the country, with plans to expand its scope nationwide.

IG Islamabad Police provided a detailed briefing on the transition from Safe City to Capital Smart City, highlighting how the use of Safe City cameras during Muharram-ul-Haram saved significant time and resources.

Federal Secretary Interior, Chief Commissioner Islamabad, Additional Deputy Commissioner General, and other senior officials were also present during the visit.

Minister Naqvi stressed that reforms in Safe City operations and the effective use of technology are the need of the hour, promising a safer, smarter Islamabad for all residents.