The Punjab government has introduced a new requirement making it mandatory for owners of private vehicles to obtain a fitness certificate every year. Under the new law, all private vehicles in the province must undergo an annual fitness test, failing which owners will face penalties.
Vehicle owners who do not obtain the fitness certificate will initially be issued a challan. If the violation continues, authorities may impound the vehicle until the owner complies with the requirement.
The province currently has only 13 centres designated to carry out fitness inspections for the millions of vehicles registered across Punjab. This limited capacity is expected to create difficulties for vehicle owners seeking to obtain their certificates within the required timeframe.
The government has set the fee for the fitness certificate between Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 annually, depending on the vehicle category. The new charge adds to the existing financial burden on vehicle owners in the province.
