RFID registration plates to be introduced in the federal capital

In a bid to meet the international standards and counter-terrorist and theft activities, the authorities have decided to introduce radio frequency identification (RFID) vehicle registration plates in the capital territory.

According to the details, several meetings were held between the capital territory Safe City Project and the Federal Excise department before the radio frequency project was finalized. The summary for the final approval of the project was then sent to the interior ministry. The two departments realized in various meetings that introducing uniform registration plates was next to impossible due to several complications in the process. Earlier on, the ministry, along with the excise department, also worked to figure out an alternative solution to the problem of uniform number plates. The issue was created after the 18^th amendment in the Constitution, which took away the rights of the federal capital to interfere in the working process of any of the provincial excise departments. Further changes are required to bring it under the federal capital.

On the other hand, the provincial excise departments have already signed agreements with several number plate manufacturers. The concerned department can’t cancel this agreement as well, which leaves them with no choice but to look for an alternative solution to centralize all the excise data. After conducting several meetings, the capital territory’s excise department suggested the introduction of radio frequency identification based (RFID) registration number plates, which meets international standards. Adopting these number plates would allow the excise department to keep all the records of the vehicle’s owner, registration, token tax details, etc. Moreover, various steps are also being taken to centralize the database of all the registration numbers. This process would provide all the provincial excise department access to the data stored in a centralized system. This advanced database system is already being used across the globe.

It is imperative to mention here that the registration number plates issued by the federal capital’s excise department can be recognized by the CCTV’s installed by the Safe City Project. Similarly, the registration number plates of Punjab are also designed in a way that they can be read by the CCTV’s installed across the city. As far as the installation of these RFID number plates is concerned, the front windscreen will be used. The removal of RFID would enable the police and Safe City control room to identify the suspected vehicles installed with fake or duplicate number plates. This technology will also help the concerned authority to trace the exact location of stolen cars. The revenue collection is also expected to rise through this initiative.