The Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) has issued a strict warning to owners of smoke-emitting vehicles, announcing that extensive action will be taken throughout Islamabad as part of an aggressive campaign to combat air pollution in the capital.
According to Pak-EPA Director General Nazia Zaib Ali, the agency has strengthened its enforcement efforts in recent weeks to control harmful vehicular emissions, which she identified as one of the primary contributors to declining air quality and frequent smog formation in the city. She noted that the operation has been expanded to ensure that all major roads and densely populated traffic zones are regularly monitored.
Inspection teams have been deployed across Islamabad to conduct daily checks. These teams are authorized to stop vehicles on the spot, examine emission levels, and take immediate action. She confirmed that drivers who are found operating vehicles releasing excessive smoke will face strict penalties, including instant fines or even vehicle confiscation. In some cases, both penalties may be applied depending on the severity of the violation.
DG Nazia further emphasized that driving a vehicle that emits smoke above the legal limit is considered an environmental offense under federal law. She made it clear that no vehicle contributing to air pollution will be allowed to continue operating on city roads because of the severe risk it poses to public health.
The agency pointed out that poorly maintained diesel buses, trucks, wagons, Qingqi rickshaws, and motorcycles are among the biggest sources of dangerous pollutants, such as particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide. These contaminants damage air quality, intensify smog, and create serious health hazards, especially during winter when weather conditions trap pollution near the ground. Pak-EPA urged citizens to cooperate with inspection teams, ensure maintenance of smoke-free vehicles, and report violators in order to help reduce pollution in Islamabad.
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