Islamabad’s district administration has introduced new registration rules for online cab and motorcycle ride-hailing services, requiring drivers to record passengers’ national identity card (NIC) numbers before starting any trip. The decision follows heightened security concerns after a deadly suicide bombing at a mosque in the capital earlier this month. Authorities say the move aims to improve passenger tracking and tighten safety checks across the city.
Under the new directives, all ride-hailing drivers operating in Islamabad will have to formally register with the authorities. Complete details of drivers and vehicles will be collected and stored in a digital system that will be accessible to Islamabad Police.
Officials said drivers will now be required to enter passenger NIC information into the ride-hailing application before beginning a journey. Trips without recorded identification will no longer be permitted. The registration process has been ordered to begin immediately.
Alongside this, authorities have launched a crackdown on unregistered taxis and motorcycles operating in the capital. Transport departments have been instructed to coordinate with ride-hailing companies and take action against services that fail to comply with the new rules, particularly unregistered motorcycle ride-hailing operations.
The measures come in the wake of a suicide bombing at a mosque in Islamabad’s Tarlai area during Friday prayers on February 6, which left at least 32 people dead and more than 150 injured. Officials say investigations into the attack are ongoing and the suspect involved has been identified.
Security officials maintain that better documentation and monitoring of transport services will help law enforcement respond more effectively to potential threats. They argue that the digital registration system will also discourage misuse of ride-hailing platforms.