The Islamabad Excise and Taxation Department has launched a new digital facility enabling overseas Pakistanis to register and transfer vehicles online through the PakID mobile application. The initiative eliminates the need for embassy visits or submission of power of attorney documents, marking a significant step toward digitizing public services for expatriates.
According to Director of Excise Bilal Azam, the newly introduced system is designed to simplify and secure vehicle-related processes for overseas Pakistanis. “Now, for registration and transfer of the vehicle, they can download the PakID app. From there, they can record their biometrics, and we will ensure the vehicle’s transfer,” he said while speaking to the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP).
Azam explained that biometric submission through the app would act as proof of identity, removing the requirement for a separate Transfer Order (TO) form. However, he emphasized the importance of completing necessary documentation. “When you sell any vehicle, please ensure that you sign your transfer letter and hand it over to the purchaser,” he advised, noting that both biometric verification and a signed transfer letter remain legal obligations.
In a parallel development, the Excise Department has intensified its crackdown on token tax defaulters in Islamabad. Several vehicle registrations have been suspended or cancelled after multiple public notices and newspaper advertisements. “We have issued notices to defaulters from 1980 to 2000 and, after due process, cancelled their registrations,” Azam said, adding that a reinstatement process remains open for vehicle owners seeking to regularize their status.
The digital registration and transfer facility forms part of a wider reform initiative by the Islamabad Excise and Taxation Department, focused on enhancing efficiency, transparency, and user convenience for both domestic citizens and overseas Pakistanis through technology-driven solutions.
