The Environment Protection and Climate Change Department has confirmed that vehicles without Emission Test System (ETS) stickers will not be restricted from using the roads at this stage.
Officials have stated that such a move will only be considered once a majority of vehicles in Lahore have undergone emissions testing.
Currently, the department is offering a free ETS service across 20 centers in the city. Each center is supposed to operate with three testing squads. However, in many locations, fewer teams are available, which has led to long queues and delays.
At the Emporium Mall center in Johar Town, only one squad was reportedly handling hundreds of vehicles daily.
Motorists have complained about waiting for hours in the heat without getting their vehicles tested. Each ETS test takes about five minutes, including a required pause between tests to clear emissions from the machine.
The department believes that many people avoid using the paid testing facilities, where a test costs Rs. 500. This results in heavy rush at the free service points. So far, over 100,000 vehicles have been tested in Lahore.
Officials have said that the number of ETS machines will soon increase from 70 to around 100. The department also plans to expand the service to other districts in Punjab.
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