Ministry of Climate Change Plans to Phase Out Vehicles Older Than 15 Years in Punjab
ISLAMABAD – The Ministry of Climate Change has announced plans to phase out vehicles older than 15 years from the roads in Punjab, citing that 80% of climate-related issues in the region are caused by emissions from these outdated vehicles.
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During a Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs meeting of the National Assembly, chaired by Hina Rabbani Khar, it was revealed that the Ministry is working on a comprehensive plan to address this pressing issue. The Secretary of Climate Change highlighted that the emissions from old vehicles contribute significantly to environmental degradation, which is why this action is deemed necessary. “We need to do better for Pakistan and address the challenges of climate change,” the Secretary stated.
The meeting also discussed the broader global approach to climate change, with Khar advising the Foreign Office on how to handle the limited international space available for climate-related issues. She recommended collaboration with universities in Islamabad to bolster research on climate change. In line with this, the Ministry of Climate Change has already signed an agreement with a private university for research purposes.
Nabil Munir, the Additional Secretary, expressed support for the Foreign Office’s collaboration with universities. He also noted that at COP 29, a $3 million agreement was made for developing countries, though Russia did not participate due to the ongoing war. Additionally, Pakistan is in talks with South Korea regarding climate change agreements.
Hina Rabbani Khar concluded the meeting by emphasizing the importance of climate diplomacy in the current global context. She remarked, “In this era of climate diplomacy, we should not engage in bad diplomacy. Pakistan needs to play a bridging role in this situation, working with both developed and developing countries.”
