The Punjab government today approved a ban on the production of petrol-powered motorcycle rickshaws and initiated a phased plan to eventually eliminate the manufacturing of all petrol motorcycles, marking a significant policy shift to combat severe air pollution. The decision was made during a special meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Anti-Smog, chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.
As part of the new directives, government departments across Punjab will now be mandated to purchase only electric or hybrid vehicles and electric motorcycles. The committee also announced a complete prohibition on washing vehicles with water at home and a plan to install internationally standardized, colour-coded waste bins throughout the province.
The meeting resolved that strict action would be taken against any activity harming public health and the environment, with severe penalties for burning plastic or other materials that produce toxic smoke. Approval was also granted for establishing multiple public-private partnership workshops to conduct continuous testing of vehicles emitting smoke beyond permissible limits.
Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb briefed the committee on existing anti-smog efforts. Officials reported that Punjab’s first state-of-the-art “Air Quality Monitoring Network” and an “AQI Forecast System” are now operational, allowing for timely prediction of pollution levels. They noted that the use of smog guns has significantly reduced pollution in targeted areas.
A comprehensive anti-pollution operation is underway across various districts. In Lahore and its surrounding regions, incidents of crop burning have reportedly dropped by 88 percent due to drone surveillance and satellite-based monitoring. A dedicated “Quick Response Center” and “Force” have been established to take immediate action against stubble burning.
Technological interventions include the launch of Pakistan’s first “Eco Chatbot”, a mobile application, and a public dashboard. Currently, 41 air-quality monitors are functioning in 18 districts, with an additional 100 sensors scheduled for installation by next year. The province’s first emission-testing system has already processed 300,000 vehicles.
A Smog War Room has been set up at the Punjab Safe Cities Authority (PSCA) for permanent environmental monitoring, utilizing 8,500 CCTV cameras for digital surveillance of industries, car-wash stations, and dust hot spots. These efforts have led to the demolition of more than 450 polluting industrial units and the imposition of fines totaling Rs 23 crore.
Industrial environmental control measures, including eight special night squads, have been made fully operational. These squads have reportedly demolished over 100 units causing environmental damage. Additionally, enforcement actions have resulted in the demolition of 2,200 brick kilns and the sealing of 2,336 others.
The province has also launched its largest-ever campaign against plastic bags, with 26,000 businesses pledging to stop using hazardous plastic. A crackdown is underway on facilities engaged in tire-burning, battery-burning, and fat-melting, with citizens able to lodge complaints through the “Green Punjab app”, a “1373 helpline”, and the “EcoWatch app”.
Officials reported major progress in tree-planting initiatives, including a green belt of 2.1 million trees established around Lahore. Further plantations include 200,000 trees along Ring Road, 400,000 under the ‘Lungs of Lahore’ project, and extensive planting in 30 parks and along 40 kilometres of railway tracks. A “Punjab Green School Certification Programme” has also been introduced.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif expressed satisfaction with the measures taken, commending the team for their work. She directed a zero-tolerance policy for child labour at brick kilns and emphasized that the progress of the last 18 months must be streamlined over the coming four years, underscoring the use of technology as a symbol of modern governance.