Smart number plates have been introduced to keep a check on stealing and snatching of vehicles in the federal capital. For the first time, it has been decided to issue special number plates to the vehicles in Islamabad which would help contain the incidents of car lifting and their use for terrorism and other crimes. Islamabad Chief Commissioner Aftab Akbar Durrani said that the newly introduced number plates would be connected with safe city cameras and in case of car theft or accident, the vehicle would be picked shortly through these cameras. He said that despite all-out efforts, non-custom paid, tempered and smuggled vehicles are still running in the federal capital but expressed the hope this new initiative will expose all such vehicles. The chief commissioner said that these number plates would not only be reflective but will possess special security features. He said in case of any technical fault in the issued number plate, it would be replaced free of cost for the next five years. Director Excise Islamabad Bilal Azam said that online issuance of token has also been introduced and in case of challan, the due token will also have to be paid on the spot. He said fake transfer of vehicles would also end through this initiative. He said that an agreement has been signed with NADRA for online token system and will shortly introduce biometric system for transfer of vehicles. Published in Daily Times, May 28th 2018.