ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Environment Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) has issued a stern warning to owners of smoke-emitting vehicles in the federal capital, announcing strict punitive measures for violators. Officials said that vehicles found releasing excessive emissions would face on-the-spot fines, confiscation, or both.
Read More: Smoke–emitting vehicles to face heavy fines in Islamabad
Pak-EPA Director General Nazia Zaib Ali said the agency had intensified enforcement operations to curb vehicular pollution, a major contributor to deteriorating air quality and recurring smog episodes in Islamabad. She noted that inspection teams were deployed across major roads, intersections, and high-traffic corridors to identify and penalize offending vehicles.
“Smoke-emitting vehicles will not be allowed to operate in Islamabad under any circumstances,” Ms Zaib Ali warned, emphasizing that vehicular emissions are a public health emergency. She highlighted that poorly maintained engines, especially from diesel buses, trucks, Qingqi rickshaws, and motorcycles, released hazardous pollutants that harm both the environment and human health.
پریس ریلیز
دھواں چھوڑنے والی گاڑیوں کے خلاف سخت جرمانے—پاک ای پی اے نے اسلام آباد میں نگرانی مزید سخت کردی
اسلام آباد۔۔۔30 نومبر 2025۔۔۔
پاکستان انوائرنمنٹل پروٹیکشن ایجنسی اسلام آباد (پاک ای پی اے اسلام آباد)، وزارتِ موسمیاتی تبدیلی و ماحولیاتی ہم آہنگی کے تحت، نے وفاقی… pic.twitter.com/BKX7VocUm5
— PTV News (@PTVNewsOfficial) November 30, 2025
Pak-EPA said vehicular smoke contains particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and unburnt hydrocarbons. These pollutants contribute to smog formation, respiratory illnesses, chronic diseases, and even premature deaths. Children, the elderly, and individuals with heart or lung conditions are particularly at risk.
Winter months exacerbate pollution in Islamabad due to stagnant air and temperature inversions, which trap emissions near the ground. Medical experts warned that prolonged exposure could impair lung development in children and increase risks of heart attacks, asthma, bronchitis, pneumonia, and certain cancers.
Read More: LHC orders crackdown on smoke-emitting vehicles
Ms Zaib Ali called on citizens to cooperate with inspections, maintain smoke-free vehicles, report polluting vehicles, and follow environmental laws. “Cleaner air is a shared national responsibility. With public cooperation, we can significantly reduce pollution and protect millions of lives,” she added.