The Punjab government has announced that no vehicles will be issued an M-Tag unless they provide a valid fitness certificate. The fitness certificate ensures that the vehicle meets certain mechanical and environmental standards. This move is part of the Punjab government’s efforts to combat severe air pollution, particularly during the smog season. A fitness certificate confirms that vehicles are in proper working condition, reducing the chances of emitting excessive pollution.
Efforts to Reduce Pollution
As part of these efforts, the government has also placed restrictions on older vehicles. Any vehicles older than 30 years are now prohibited from entering Lahore and traveling on motorways from October to January. This rule is designed to reduce the number of high-emission vehicles on the roads during the smog-prone winter months. Older vehicles tend to have higher emissions, and their engines may not meet current pollution standards, contributing significantly to air quality deterioration.
The government will initially enforce this rule for government-owned vehicles. They must comply with the fitness certificate requirement to get an M-Tag. Once the process is streamlined, the policy will extend to private and commercial vehicles as well. The government plans to gradually enforce this rule across all vehicles in Punjab. Initially, this will be limited to specific areas, such as Lahore and major highways, but over time, it will apply more broadly.
These new regulations are the government’s serious approach to improving air quality and tackling pollution in one of Pakistan’s most heavily affected regions like in Lahore, Multan and Rawalpindi.
Some Pakistan cities, like Lahore, Multan, and Kasur, are some of the world’s most polluted cities as per the AQI index, which peaked at 1,800 points last month. For humans, an AQI above 90 is considered bad, and above 200 is seriously dangerous. Now, you should be able to know how bad the air quality conditions are in Pakistan and why the government is taking string actions against smoke-emitting vehicles.
