Pakistan Taking Steps to Combat Air Pollution from Old Vehicles

Islamabad:Like many countries around the world, Pakistan is facing the challenge of air pollution, with Lahore and Karachi being among the most polluted cities. One of the significant contributors to this pollution is the emissions from older vehicles.

In developed countries, the use of vehicles older than 15 to 20 years is banned, and new cars are being manufactured as electric or hybrid models. Strict tests are conducted before older vehicles are allowed on the roads. In contrast, in Pakistan, vehicles that are over 50 years old can still be seen on the streets.

According to the Ministry of Climate Change, a national action plan is being developed to phase out the use of vehicles older than 15 years. The ministry is currently in consultation with the Ministry of Industries and Production, along with other relevant departments, to implement this plan.

In a recent meeting, the Ministry of Industries and Production and the Engineering Development Board were urged to facilitate the transition of vehicles to electric models in accordance with the Electric Vehicle Policy.

To reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, the Ministry of Climate Change has decided to prioritize improvements in the transportation sector. The plan includes ensuring the use of Euro 5 and better fuel standards and making the issuance of mandatory fitness certificates for old vehicles a requirement.

Provincial governments are also working to improve the transport sector to combat air pollution. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has set up testing stations in Peshawar to check the emissions from vehicles older than the 1997 model. The Balochistan government has phased out old buses in Quetta and replaced a large number of 2-stroke rickshaws with 1-stroke models. The Azad Jammu and Kashmir government has established a system to check emissions from vehicles in collaboration with the Transport Authority.

The Ministry of Climate Change has also developed four policies to address air pollution, which include the National Clean Air Policy 2023, the National Climate Change Policy 2021, the National Electric Vehicle Policy 2019, and the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act 1997.