The Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) has warned owners of smoke-emitting vehicles that strict action will be taken across Islamabad as part of an intensified crackdown on air pollution.
Pak-EPA Director General Nazia Zaib Ali said the agency has increased enforcement operations to curb vehicular emissions, which she described as a major source of worsening air quality and recurring smog in the capital.
She said inspection teams are conducting regular checks on major roads and high-traffic areas to identify vehicles releasing excessive smoke. Officers will issue on-the-spot fines, confiscate vehicles, or impose both penalties depending on the violation.
Ms. Nazia reminded the public that driving a vehicle emitting smoke beyond legal limits is an environmental crime under federal law. She warned that polluting vehicles will not be allowed on the roads under any circumstances because they pose a serious threat to public health.
The agency said poorly maintained diesel buses, trucks, wagons, Qingqi rickshaws, and motorcycles are contributing heavily to toxic emissions. Vehicular smoke contains harmful pollutants, including particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide, which degrade air quality and fuel smog formation.
Pak-EPA noted that winter weather traps pollutants near the ground, intensifying health risks for children, the elderly, and people with respiratory or cardiac conditions. Ms. Nazia urged citizens to cooperate with inspection teams, maintain smoke-free vehicles, and report violators to help reduce pollution in the capital.