Key Points
- Islamabad Excise Department now issues vehicle number plates linked to owners, not cars.
- Sellers must return number plates upon vehicle sale, with the option to reuse them within one year
- The move ensures uniformity for all past and future plates.
ISLAMABAD: In a sweeping modernisation move, Islamabad’s Excise and Taxation Department is revving up a revolutionary change in how vehicles are registered in the capital — by assigning number plates based on ownership rather than the vehicle.
Inspired by the United States’ vehicle registration model, the new system introduces ownership-based number plates, meaning license numbers will now be issued to people, not their vehicles. The landmark shift, hailed by the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration as a progressive step forward, was confirmed in a formal notification released by the Director General of Excise and Taxation.
“This move is about bringing efficiency, transparency, and global standards to our system,” said Bilal Azam, the Director of Excise Islamabad, in a conversation with WE News English. “From now on, when a vehicle changes hands, a new number will be issued to the buyer — the original number stays with the seller.”
Under the new rules, once a car is sold, the previous owner must submit the number plate back to the Excise Department. The number remains reserved in the owner’s name and can be reused within one year. However, if left unclaimed beyond that period, it will be automatically cancelled.
This change applies to all number plates — existing and new — ensuring uniformity across the board. Analysts suggest this may lead to easier tracking of ownership history, improved tax collection, and a more organised vehicular database.
As Islamabad leads the way with this innovation, other provinces may soon follow, steering Pakistan’s vehicle registration system into a new, owner-centric era.
