Lahore, a city plagued by heavy smog every fall, has launched a new emissions testing program for four-wheel vehicles under a pilot initiative. But experts argue the policy fails to address key sources of pollution—motorcycles and rickshaws.
Under the scheme, vehicles passing the test receive a green QR-coded sticker on their windshield. Testing is free until June 30 and is being conducted at nine centers across Lahore by the Environment Protection Agency (EPA).
The program is part of the Vehicle Inspection and Certification System (VICS), which previously operated under the Punjab Transport Department but became overwhelmed due to rising vehicle numbers.
Punjab has 25 million registered vehicles—20 million of them motorcycles—yet the current testing excludes two- and three-wheelers. Lahore alone has 5.2 million motorcycles.
PakWheels Chairman Suneel Sarfraz Munj criticized the exclusion, pointing out that 60% of road traffic consists of high-emission two- and three-wheelers. “Clean vehicles won’t matter if we continue using poor-quality fuel,” he added.
While some environmentalists welcomed the move, others like lawyer Rafi Alam stressed the need to test all vehicle types, including older models with outdated engines. Experts also called for a shift to Euro V fuel and engine standards to reduce emissions more effectively.
It’s very basic, instead of starting with commercial vehicles, incompetence got in the way of govt as usual. First of all, Punjab is not just Lahore. Second, govt should make the service centres comply with regulations instead of jumping into matters they clearly have no idea about.
We barely survived the last government, and now we’re stuck with this one. I don’t know when we’ll finally have brilliant minds in power, instead of just the famous or those with ancestral connections.
This program seems to be impossible to be implemented and at the end Rishwat lay ker sticker lug Jaya karay GA…
Why not govt post an emergency like Dengue and ask every car maker service center to have this emission test free for their brand or charge Rs. 50 or 100.
And give a suitable time…
In 1 month 5.2 Million cars impossible…
Policy makers are incompitent..
The government should facilitate workshops and impose little charges to test emissions and collect online daily for all type of vehicle in Lahore.
Secondly, they should make portal where everyone can get ticket and the nearest place of location for ease so there should be no time wastage.
This may be a good suggestion.
Both your suggestions are good, and both are implemented in foreign countries where emissions testing is mandatory. However, like any new initiative taken by the Govt here, it’s poorly thought out and run by incompetents so your suggestions will fall on deaf ears while the authorities use this as another method to collect bribes.
What about cars from other cities visiting Lahore occasionally as know testing points mentioned across Punjab except Lahore
I totally agree with the concept of stating the control from largest contributor to the pollution which is bikes, commercial vehicles including three wheelers, vans and private buses.
This is stupidity that the government has picked a least threatening element of pollution to undergo testing and that too under the scorching sun. What a fun!
The factories are the main source of pollution plus garbage burning..We should follow the Singapore model for the disposal and reuse the garbage to generate electricity.
It is a pathatic and nonsense decision who ever took to stand all people on roads in hot weather.ilthis is not the way do the job.very unwise method by unwise people