The Punjab Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has extended the deadline for vehicle emission testing until 31 August, providing motorists with additional time to meet environmental standards.
The original deadline of 30 June was pushed back due to an overwhelming response at testing booths, according to Imran Hamid Sheikh, Director General of the EPA Punjab. “The extension is intended to facilitate the public and ensure a smoother testing process,” he added.
In the past 50 days, over 123,000 vehicles have undergone testing across the province. Among them, approximately 2,000 vehicles were found to be emitting pollutants beyond acceptable limits. Owners of these vehicles have been issued warnings and advised to make necessary repairs or tune their engines to reduce emissions.
Emission testing is a scientific procedure that measures the levels of toxic gases and particulate matter released from vehicle exhausts. Key pollutants assessed during testing include carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and particulate matter (PM). If a vehicle fails the test, the owner is instructed to take corrective action.
According to DG EPA, vehicles manufactured in 2022 or later are exempt from testing as they comply with modern Euro emission standards and come with in-built emission control technologies.
As per statistics obtained from the Punjab Excise Department, the province has 20m registered motorcycles and five million four-wheeled vehicles, with Lahore alone accounting for 5.2m motorcycles and 1.3m four-wheeled vehicles.
The EPA has urged vehicle owners to utilise the extended timeline to contribute to cleaner air. Free testing booths have been set up across Punjab, including 20 locations in Lahore, where motorists can have their vehicles tested without any additional fee.
This initiative is part of Punjab’s broader strategy to combat air pollution, particularly in Lahore and other urban areas where air quality has become a significant public health concern. In a separate development, a few days ago, the Government of Pakistan launched the New Electric Vehicle Policy (NEVP), which aims to stimulate the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) across the country.
Muhammad Saleem Shaikh, spokesperson for the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, stated that the policy is designed to ensure a just and inclusive transition to cleaner mobility. The initiative also seeks to reduce the country’s dependency on fossil fuels, encourage local innovation, and create new green jobs.
“The government is stepping up efforts to promote the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) as a key part of the country’s clean energy and climate resilience agenda,” Shaikh remarked. With the transport sector being a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and urban air pollution, the shift towards EVs marks a significant move towards a more sustainable, healthier, and economically viable future.