Tinted Glass Permit in Pakistan: The Rs 15,000 Plan
No, a tinted glass permit is not open to ordinary drivers in Pakistan today. Dark tinted windows are still not allowed on normal private vehicles. But that may change soon, because the government has proposed letting any car owner tint their windows legally for Rs 15,000 a year.
Important: this is a proposal, not a law. Nothing has been notified. If someone tells you tint is legal now, they are early.
Here is the full picture in simple words.
What the Government Has Proposed
The biggest change is the price, and most people have missed it.
The earlier draft charged Rs 15,000 for three years. In May, the Senate Standing Committee on Interior recommended charging Rs 15,000 every year instead.
Same number. One third of the coverage. That is a 3x jump in real cost.
The Ministry of Interior then prepared a revised draft of the Tinted Glass Permit Policy 2025 based on those recommendations.
What the revised draft says:
Ordinary citizens pay Rs 15,000 per year
Serving and former MNAs and Senators pay nothing
Foreigners are out. The word "foreigner" was replaced with "diplomat", so only accredited diplomatic staff can apply
A new three-way split now separates lawmakers, general citizens and diplomatic personnel
The draft has gone to stakeholders for comments. Final approval and official notification are still awaited.
What Is Legal Today
Nothing has changed on the ground yet.
Dark tints on windscreens and side windows are largely prohibited under the Provincial Motor Vehicles Ordinance 1965 and the Pakistan Motor Vehicles Rules 1969. Limited tinting on rear windows is allowed in some areas under specific conditions.
Unauthorised dark film remains illegal. Without a permit, you are driving at risk.
Crackdowns are not rare either. Security-driven operations have run in Islamabad, Karachi, Peshawar, Quetta and Rawalpindi, and on motorway routes. District administrations have also imposed temporary bans in sensitive areas using emergency powers.
One honest note on fines: enforcement differs between Punjab, Sindh, Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. There is no single published national fine figure, so we will not invent one.
A Warning About Fake Permit Websites
Several websites claim to be official tinted glass permit portals and ask for your CNIC.
Check the domain before you type anything. A real Government of Pakistan site ends in .gov.pk. Anything else asking for your CNIC is not official, no matter how it looks.
Never pay a permit fee to a website you cannot verify.
What the Draft Still Does Not Say
This is the part almost everyone skips, and it matters more than the fee.
The draft still does not clarify:
How dark you can go. No tint percentage or light-transmission limit is stated
How to apply. No application procedure is published
Who issues it. The issuing authority is not confirmed
How long it lasts. No validity period is given
How it will be enforced, or whether it will work the same way in every province
So even if you wanted to follow the rule today, you could not. The rulebook is unfinished.
What a Tinted Glass Permit Means for Car Buyers and Sellers
At AutoOnes we see this from both sides every week.
If you are buying an imported car
Japanese imports often arrive with factory tint already fitted. It was legal where the car was built. Here it sits in a grey area.
Buyers ask us this constantly, and the honest answer is that factory tint has caused confusion at checkpoints for years.
Keep your import documents in the car. They show the tint came fitted from the factory, not from a shop.
There is a real warning here too. Authorities have cancelled permits that were already issued, including some given on medical grounds and some given for imported vehicles, on the Interior Ministry's directions. A permit in hand has not always meant permanent safety.
The earlier draft did try to sort out factory-fitted tint on imported cars. Until it is notified, the grey area stays.
If you are selling
Aftermarket tint can quietly cost you money.
Buyers know the film may have to come off, so they discount your car in their head before they even call.
Many sellers now remove the tint themselves before listing. It photographs cleaner and it kills one objection.
If the yearly permit becomes law, both problems get a clean fix. Pay, carry the permit, drive without stress.
Why People Are Arguing About It
One line in the draft is driving the whole debate.
Parliamentarians get it free. Ordinary citizens pay Rs 15,000 every year.
Many people feel a road safety rule should cost the same for everyone, or nothing for everyone.
The security argument on the other side is real too. Dark windows make it hard to see who is inside a vehicle, which is why agencies have pushed back for years.
A paid, registered permit is the middle path. Tint stays legal, but every tinted car is on a list.
What You Should Do Right Now
Do not install dark tint yet. The policy is not notified. Today's rules still apply.
Carry your import papers if your imported car came with factory tint.
Use the existing route if you have a genuine security or medical case. That process runs through the Ministry of Interior.
Verify any website before entering your CNIC. Look for .gov.pk.
Wait for the notification. When it lands, we will publish the exact steps, documents and payment method here.
Tinted Glass Rules in Pakistan: Quick Comparison
TodayUnder the proposed policyOrdinary driversNot allowed without a permitRs 15,000 per yearMNAs and SenatorsCase by caseFreeForeignersCould applyAccredited diplomats onlyTint darkness limitRestricted under 1965 and 1969 rulesStill not definedStatusIn forceDraft, not notified
FAQs
Is tinted glass legal in Pakistan in 2026?
Not for ordinary drivers. A Rs 15,000 yearly permit has been proposed, but it has not been approved or notified.
How much will the tinted glass permit cost?
The proposed fee is Rs 15,000 per year for private vehicle owners. Serving and former parliamentarians would pay nothing.
Why did the fee change?
The earlier draft charged Rs 15,000 for three years. In May the Senate committee recommended charging it annually instead.
How dark can my tint be?
Nobody knows yet. The draft states no tint percentage. Today's limits come from the Provincial Motor Vehicles Ordinance 1965 and the Pakistan Motor Vehicles Rules 1969.
What about factory tint on imported cars?
It has been a grey area for years. The new policy is expected to address it. Until then, keep your import documents in the vehicle.
Can foreigners still apply?
Under the revised draft, no. The category was narrowed to accredited diplomatic personnel only.
Are the online tinted glass permit portals real?
Be careful. Official Government of Pakistan websites end in .gov.pk. Do not enter your CNIC or pay any fee on a site you cannot verify.
Sources
Ministry of Interior revised draft, Tinted Glass Permit Policy 2025
Senate Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control recommendations, May 2026
Provincial Motor Vehicles Ordinance 1965 and Pakistan Motor Vehicles Rules 1969
Daily Pakistan on the revised draft and the diplomat change
Pakistan Observer on existing law and past crackdowns
Samaa on the eligibility change
ProPakistani on the annual fee and the exemption
Disclaimer
This article explains a proposed government policy in plain words. It is not legal advice. Rules can change without notice and enforcement varies by province. For your own case, confirm with the relevant authority or a qualified lawyer.
We track every change in Pakistan's auto rules. When the tinted glass policy is officially notified, this page will be updated with the full application process. Bookmark it.