The National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP) have made M Tag essential for travelling on the motorway. According to the police, no vehicle will be allowed on motorways without a M Tag from December 7th, 2021 onwards. Therefore, in this guide, we’ll cover how to get M Tag Motorway Pakistan.
What is M Tag?
Regular motorway users might know about the E-Tag facility that existed, providing expedited means of access to frequent users of motorways. Those who wanted unrestricted access to motorway would opt for a radio frequency identification (RFID) sticker that would go on their car’s windscreen. When the user would drive in to the exclusive E-Tag lanes, the toll booths would automatically detect for that E-Tag sticker, ultimately allowing the cars to pass through.
Since 31st March 2018, the E-Tag facility has been discontinued in favour of the newer M Tag. Initially it was compulsory for commercial vehicles to have M Tag if they wanted to gain access to the motorway, but in recent times the Frontier Works Organization (FWO) and M Tag Pakistan Motorway authorities have re-iterated that privately owned vehicles should also get an M Tag at the earliest.
Similar to its predecessor, the M Tag is also a pre-paid RFID chip which goes on the windscreen of your car, read by the scanners installed at the motorway toll booths. The scanner reads for the available balance in your M Tag along with the location of the entry. When you take an exit from the motorway, the scanner on that exit booth deducts the appropriate amount automatically—meaning no need to wait in long lines to submit the toll tax. The same system is being used in other countries as well such as Dubai.
The Need for M Tag
According to the latest development, NHMP have made M Tag essential for travel on motorways. In a tweet the police said, “M Tag now mandatory on motorways.”
The authority further backed its decision by supplementing the orders of the Lahore High Court (LHC). “As per the decision of LHC from 7th Dec 2021, only M Tag travelers will be allowed on the motorways”, the police tweeted.
M-Tag is now mandatory on motorways. pic.twitter.com/O7M5Co07fU
— National Highways & Motorway Police (NHMP) (@NHMPofficial) December 4, 2021
The decision has been taken to provide a seamless flow of traffic on the motorways. It will also help in mitigating the effects of air pollution caused by prolonged traffic blockades at toll plazas.
Documents Needed for M Tag
Earlier, you must have had your CNIC, Car Registration Book and verified DLIMS Driving License, but now there are some changes. According to NHMP officials, Car Registration Book is not needed anymore.
According to Chief Brand Consultant of One Network (M Tag), the old requirements have been currently suspended for M Tag registration. “Now the process is very simple. You just have to visit any M Tag recharge booth with your CNIC and car and get your M Tag. Our representative will paste the M Tag himself,” he told us. Although, officials don’t usually ask for it but it is a safe measure to carry your COVID-19 vaccination certificate along as well.
How To Get M Tag Motorway Pakistan?
The process of getting an M Tag for your car is quite easy. Head to the M-2 Motorway M Tag Issuance Booth along with the following documents:
- CNIC
- Car Registration Book
- Drivers License
- COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate
Ineligibility of Unregistered Vehicles
IG NHMP Inam Ghani announced recently that unregistered vehicles will no more be allowed to travel on motorways. He referred to section 18 of the NHSO 2000 tweeting, “Motor vehicles not to be driven without registration. A person shall not drive a motor vehicle and the owner shall not cause a vehicle to be driven unless the vehicle is registered.”
— Inam Ghani QPM & Bar, PSP (@InamGhani) December 8, 2021
How to check M Tag ID?
To check the status of your M Tag ID, send an SMS with “Mtag <space> CNIC Number” to 9909.
M Tag Registration Fee
Getting a M Tag ID for your vehicle is not free anymore. Vehicle owners who want to get M Tag are now required to pay Rs. 200 for registration. “The fee has been implemented from January 1st, 2022,” said an NHMP official, adding that the FWO controls the monetary system on motorways and the fee will go to the authority.
Explaining further, the official said that an individual must have at least Rs. 500 for a new M Tag sticker. “Rs. 200 are for registration (as mentioned earlier) and Rs. 300 for balance,” said the official.
M Tag Motorway App
For those who want to carry out M Tag registration online, you can download One Network App. Sign up on it with your CNIC number and verify your car for M Tag. In case, you don’t see your car in the app whether in the name of your father, brother or other relative, you just have to call on M Tag helpline 1313. The operator will ask some questions from you like where did you travel last? Which route you took?
After that, the car will be transferred to your name in the app. The M Tag Motorway app can also be used for M Tag recharge, checking your balance and the toll cost from point-A to Point-B
You can visit these booths for M Tag sticker:
Locations of M-Tag Registration & Recharge Centers across Pakistan
Call 1313 for further assistance #motorway #MTag #motorwaypolice #NHA #Lahore #islamabad pic.twitter.com/dPSQPdQVFX
— One Network (@onenetworkpk) December 9, 2021
However, the ‘Applied For’ cars will not get M Tag. ‘Applied for’ registration vehicles will not be issued M Tag or allowed to travel on the motorways,” One Network tweeted.
Important announcement for commuters!
'Applied for' registration vehicles will not be issued M-Tag or allowed to travel on the motorways
Call 1313 for assistance#OneNetwork #MTag #motorwaypolice #NHA #Lahore #islamabad pic.twitter.com/KyiOtVHmko
— One Network (@onenetworkpk) December 12, 2021
M Tag Recharge
You can use the following apps and means to recharge your M Tag:
- Scratch Card
- Easy Paisa
- Jazz Cash
- U-Paisa
- M-2 Customer Care Centre
Checking the M Tag Balance
You can check the balance by sending an SMS to “Balance <Space> M Tag ID” to 9909.
We hope that this guide will prove to be helpful for you. So, visit the nearby M Tag registration booth and get your M Tag today.
