Excise and Taxation Department Islamabad has announced new 24-hour and 12-hour Ramadan timings for M-Tag centers to ease congestion and help motorists install tags more easily.
24-Hour M-Tag Centers Now Open at Key Locations
To facilitate citizens during the holy month of Ramadan, the Excise and Taxation Department Islamabad has introduced new extended timings for M-Tag installation on motorcycles and vehicles. The changes are designed to handle a growing number of applicants and reduce long queues at checkpoints.
According to Director General Excise Irfan Memon, the number of 24-hour operational centers has now been increased to four. These round-the-clock facilities are located at Sector 26, F-9 Park, Faizabad Interchange and Phulgran. Motorists can visit any of these locations at any time of the day or night to get their M-Tag installed.
By keeping key points open 24/7, the department aims to spread footfall throughout the day instead of concentrating rush at limited hours. This is especially helpful for drivers who work late shifts, travel intercity or prefer to avoid daytime traffic and fasting hours.
Extended 12-Hour Shifts at Major Checkpoints
In addition to the 24-hour centers, authorities have expanded working hours at several existing M-Tag points. Previously announced nine-hour shifts have now been upgraded to 12-hour operations at most locations across the capital.
Centres at Rawat Check Post, G-14 Check Post, Ninth Avenue I-9, the wheat warehouse checkpoint, Daman-e-Koh and Murree Road near the Tulip checkpoint will now operate for longer stretches each day. The extension is expected to speed up processing, cut waiting times and make it easier for commuters to find a time slot that fits their routine.
These 12-hour windows are particularly useful for residents who cannot make it to a 24-hour center but still need a wider choice of timings around office, business or family commitments during Ramadan.
Additional Service Points to Handle Growing Demand
To further strengthen coverage, the Excise Department has also announced additional 12-hour service points at checkpoints in Gulberg Greens, Milpur and along Margalla Avenue. These locations are intended to serve rapidly growing residential areas and busy traffic corridors where demand for M-Tag installation has been rising.
By adding more service counters and extending hours, the authorities hope to avoid last-minute rush as enforcement of digital tagging becomes stricter on key routes. Spreading services across multiple locations also reduces pressure on a few central facilities and gives motorists more options closer to their homes or workplaces.
Officials have urged citizens not to delay installation until the final days of Ramadan or any enforcement deadline, and instead to take advantage of the extended timing now available across the network of centers.
Documents Required for M-Tag Installation
The Excise and Taxation Department has reminded the public that certain documents and conditions must be met before an M-Tag can be issued. Applicants are required to bring original vehicle ownership documents, a valid Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) and a registered mobile phone number at the time of installation.
Authorities have also clarified that the motorcycle or vehicle must already display an official Excise-issued number plate. Without a valid number plate, the M-Tag will not be installed, even if other documents are complete. This condition is part of efforts to enforce registration rules and ensure that only properly documented vehicles are allowed to use digital tagging systems.
Citizens are advised to check their paperwork in advance and make sure their vehicle data matches their CNIC and mobile number, to avoid delays or repeat visits to the centers.
Why the New Timings Matter for Islamabad Commuters?
The revised Ramadan schedule for M-Tag centers reflects a broader push towards digital toll and traffic management on major routes. By making it easier and more convenient to obtain tags, the government aims to increase compliance, reduce cash handling at toll points and speed up vehicle flow during peak hours.
For ordinary commuters, the new timings mean they no longer have to take time off work or stand in long lines during office hours to complete their registration. Night-time and extended evening options give families, professionals and transporters more flexibility to regularise their vehicles at a time that suits them.
If the expanded service model runs smoothly during Ramadan, it could provide a template for future operational planning—showing how longer hours, multiple centers and clear documentation rules can work together to support a modern, efficient M-Tag system in Islamabad.
