Key Points
- More than 1,000 diesel vehicles inspected in Islamabad; 80 impounded for exceeding emission limits.
- Industrial crackdown continues, with brick kilns upgraded or sealed and marble factories monitored.
- New emission-testing stations and anti-smog measures deployed as part of multi-tier strategy.
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) has stepped up measures to combat winter smog in the federal capital, inspecting over 1,000 vehicles and impounding 80 for violating emission standards since the drive began on December 1, the agency said on Sunday.
Pak-EPA Director General Nazia Zaib Ali said the intensified inspections form part of a short-, medium- and long-term strategy coordinated with the Ministry of Climate Change, Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP), Capital Development Authority (CDA), and the Islamabad Capital Territory Administration.
“Non-compliant vehicles cannot be allowed to poison the city’s air and endanger public health,” Ms Ali told reporters, stressing that enforcement teams are operating daily, with anti-smog guns, real-time inspections, and enhanced monitoring in place.
Vehicles were inspected at the city’s major entry points, with more than 300 challans issued. Four new emission-testing stations have been set up at D-Chowk, Lake View Park, Metro Cash & Carry, and F-9 Park to certify vehicle compliance.
Industrial emissions are also under closer scrutiny. All 30 brick kilns in the capital have switched to environment-friendly zigzag technology, while three non-compliant kilns were demolished. Among 48 marble factories in Sangjani, 32 are compliant, 16 remain under review, and three are sealed. Steel units in the I-10 Industrial Area continue to be monitored through live camera feeds.
Dr Zaigham Abbas, Pak-EPA Director, said the agency is adopting a zero-tolerance approach toward outdated industrial practices, aiming to help industries transition to cleaner technologies.
Short-term measures include deploying anti-smog guns, restricting high-emission vehicles, and increasing joint inspections with CDA and ICT authorities. The Medium-term focuses on expanding air-quality monitoring, plantation campaigns, and coordination with provincial environmental agencies. Long-term initiatives include implementing the Electric Vehicle Policy 2025, introducing an old-vehicle retirement scheme, and enforcing the National Clean Air Policy 2023.
Ministry of Climate Change spokesperson Muhammad Saleem Shaikh emphasised public participation, noting that all government and private vehicle fleets in Islamabad must be tested for emissions, and 28 organisations have been served notices for non-compliance.
“Air pollution is being treated as a public health emergency,” Shaikh said. “Clean air is not a privilege but a constitutional right.”
DG Nazia Zaib Ali urged residents to support the campaign by reducing unnecessary travel, using masks on high-smog days, improving indoor air quality, and avoiding open waste burning.
