LAHORE — In a decisive step to tackle worsening air pollution, the Lahore High Court (LHC) has ordered the Punjab government to launch a stringent crackdown on smoke-emitting vehicles across the province.
During a hearing on November 7, Justice Shahid Karim expressed frustration over the visibility of so many smoky vehicles on Punjab roads, calling for a two- to three-week intensive campaign with “strict implementation.” The court emphasized that the initiative is not about penalizing randomly, but about protecting public health and curbing smog.
Under instructions from the LHC, the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) must collaborate with police at inter-city bus terminals and motorway toll plazas to inspect and impound vehicles producing excessive emissions. Banners warning citizens that smoke-emitting vehicles will be impounded are already being displayed in Lahore, according to EPA officials.
The court also ordered a joint meeting involving the Environment Department, the Transport Department, and the Chief Traffic Officer to coordinate enforcement efforts. In addition, Justice Karim stressed that the campaign must reach major transit routes, including GT Road, where polluting vehicles are rampant.
In related developments, more than 60 tonnes of old tyres, a known source of thick black smoke, have been seized from plants in southern Punjab, according to EPA testimony before the court. Meanwhile, as part of the broader crackdown, provincial traffic police recently issued over 40,000 challans, collecting over Rs 80 million in fines under their anti-smog drive.
This aggressive drive aligns with intensified environmental-action calls made by the court and echoes a growing public concern about smog season each year. It also follows reporting by news outlets warning of the dangers posed by unchecked smoke-emitting vehicles.
