MCI makes Islamabad digital with cashless, contactless and paperless municipal services

The Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) has taken a major step toward digital governance by shifting several key municipal services

ISLAMABAD: The Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) has taken a major step toward digital governance by shifting several key municipal services to the PAK App, allowing citizens and businesses to access important services online without having to visit government offices.

The initiative has been launched in collaboration with the **National Information Technology Board (NITB)** and is aimed at transforming Islamabad into a more **cashless, contactless and paperless** federal capital.

Sources familiar with the matter in the MCI told *Minute Mirror* that the newly digitized services include applications for **advertising and open-space permissions, parking permits, generator licences and various other municipal approvals**. The online system is designed to make the process easier for applicants while reducing dependence on physical paperwork and repeated visits to municipal offices.

Under the new system, users can submit their applications directly through the PAK App and upload the documents required for processing. Applicants can also monitor the progress of their requests electronically, allowing them to remain informed about the status of their applications without having to approach officials in person.

The platform also provides facilities for **digital payments**, further reducing the need for cash-based transactions at municipal offices. A built-in **grievance redressal mechanism** has also been incorporated into the system, enabling citizens to register complaints and raise concerns regarding municipal services through the digital platform.

Officials said the digital transformation is expected to reduce paperwork, shorten processing and waiting times, and improve the overall efficiency of municipal service delivery. The system could also help minimise unnecessary discretion and the involvement of middlemen by shifting interactions between citizens and officials to a documented digital environment.

“Technology is being used to make government services simpler, faster and more accessible,” sources familiar with the matter said. “The objective is to replace traditional counter-based procedures with a transparent, predictable and citizen-focused system.”

The digitalisation of municipal services is also expected to improve record management. Since applications, approvals, payments and complaints can be maintained electronically, authorities would have a clearer record of transactions and service requests. This could strengthen monitoring mechanisms and improve institutional accountability.

The MCI has described the initiative as part of a broader strategy to develop **Islamabad as a smart, modern and technology-enabled capital**. Officials indicated that the current rollout is only an initial phase, with additional municipal services expected to be incorporated into the PAK App gradually.

The shift is expected to provide long-term benefits by reducing administrative paperwork, promoting digital payments, improving access to public services and strengthening the management of municipal records.

As more services are brought online, the initiative could significantly change the way residents and businesses interact with municipal authorities, moving Islamabad further toward a digitally managed system of public service delivery.