Islamabad authorities have issued a strict warning to owners of smoke emitting vehicles as part of a new crackdown on air pollution. The Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) has intensified inspections across major roads and high traffic areas to tackle the worsening smog in the capital.
Pak-EPA Director General Nazia Zaib Ali emphasized that vehicles emitting smoke beyond legal limits are committing an environmental crime under federal law.
“Polluting vehicles will not be allowed on the roads as they pose a serious threat to public health,” she said. On the spot fines, confiscation, or both will be enforced depending on the violation.
Poorly maintained diesel buses, trucks, rickshaws, and motorcycles are major contributors to toxic emissions, which include particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, and carbon monoxide. The agency highlighted that winter weather traps these pollutants near the ground, heightening risks for children, the elderly, and people with respiratory or heart conditions. Citizens are urged to maintain smoke-free vehicles and report violators to support cleaner air in Islamabad.