Traveling on the motorway with M Tags is made more convenient and seamless by providing toll plaza e payments. These smart stickers have been made compulsory for motorway travel, particularly from M2 Lahore to Islamabad. The registration helps you pay toll at the toll plazas seamlessly and without effort.
If you’re traveling more often than not on the M2 Lahore-Islamabad motorway, then the m-tag is compulsory. However, many people, who are traveling for the first time, have no idea how to register and check the status of Motorway tags.
You will get a complete guide on how to get an m tag in Pakistan and how to recharge and check the status of motorway tags in this article.
WHAT IS AN M TAG?
M tag is used to make payments on the toll plazas while traveling on the motorways. Before the e-payments, travelers waited in long queues and waited for their turn. It consumed a lot of time for people and the motorway authorities.
However, the electronic stickers made this tiresome and time-consuming process very convenient. M tag stands for motorway tag. It’s an E tag used for tolls at toll plazas on the motorways. After the registration, you mount the tag on the top right side of the vehicle.
When you reach a toll plaza, the scanner reads the pre-paid radio frequency identification tag from your vehicle, automatically deducting the amount. The instant payment helps the drivers and travelers pass the toll plazas without waiting in long queues.
WHY IS M TAG NECESSARY?
Before December 2021, paying toll plazas was manual, and people made payments in cash. However, the mantra of the present government is to make the payments more digitized and smooth; For this, the NHMP introduced E-tags.
On the one hand, it helps travelers make instant payments and avoid time consumption. On the other hand, National Highway & Motorway Police (NHMP) can manage motorway traffic more efficiently and effectively.
M tags also help record the vehicles and persons who traveled on the motorway on a particular day. It ensures the safety and security of the motorways.
HOW TO REGISTER FOR M TAG IN PAKISTAN?
The M tag registration doesn’t require more time and is cumbersome. The registration process is very straightforward and effortless. You can register for M Tag in multiple ways at your convenience. You can register for the M tag using any of the following procedures.
- Visit any nearest motorway toll plaza with your vehicle
- Show your CNIC
- Show your Covid vaccination certificate
- Show the proof that you have applied for your vehicle registration if it’s new and not registered yet.
- Mobile Number
However, there’s no registration fee for the M Tag. You need to recharge it and affix it to the front screen.
HOW TO TOP UP YOUR M TAG WHILE TRAVELLING?
If the balance is low and you’re traveling on the motorway, you can recharge M tags using many options. Here is a list of the payment gateways you can use to recharge your e tags on the motorways.
- Nearest Recharge Center
- EasyPaisa/JazzCash/UPaisa
- Online Bank transactions
- One Network Mobile APP
- Scratch Card
- Drive Through at the toll plaza
ONE NETWORK MOBILE APPLICATION
If you frequently travel on the M2 motorway, then the One Network mobile application is best for you as it provides the latest updates on motorways, current Balance, and toll plazas. Moreover, you can recharge your Digital motorway account instantly from the mobile application. You can also update your user information on the app quickly, like your mobile number, etc.
HOW TO CHECK M TAG BALANCE VIA SMS?
With the mobile tag application, you can easily check your Balance. However, If you’re using the Electronic number and have not installed the One Network Mobile application, you can check the Balance by sending a message to 9909.
For this, you have to write Balance (space)your M Tag Number
M TAG ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
The smart tag eligibility requires you to fulfill the following criteria, and you need some documents without which you won’t be able to get an M Tag. Thus, this ineligibility makes you unable to travel on the motorway.
- A Valid CNIC
- Vehicle Registration Documents
- If your vehicle is not registered yet, you have to provide proof of registration application.
- Partially or non-vaccinated people cannot travel on the motorway.
CONCLUSION
Lastly, the travel on M2 Motorway requires an E tag. It will be extended gradually to other motorways in the upcoming months. So far, the M2 Tag was made compulsory for the Lahore-Islamabad motorway only by the Lahore High Court by the end of December 2021.
So, don’t forget to get an M Tag before you leave for the M2 motorway. The process is very customer-friendly and time-saving. It will help the drivers and the Motorway authorities to manage traffic more effectively.
