LAHORE, July 9: Computerized vehicle fitness checkup centres will soon be set up in every district of Punjab with British technical assistance. Punjab Environment Minister Makhdoom Ashfaq Ahmad told this to a British Vehicle and Operator Services Agency delegation comprising finance director T. A. Belt, commercial manager Graham Williams, chief driving examiner Barry Morris and operations director Brian Gilhoo here on Saturday.

He said separate centres would be set up for the checkup of big and small vehicles in every district. The centres for small vehicles would be built within the cities and for big vehicles outside the cities. Fitness certificates would be issued after the inspection of the vehicles.

Mr Ahmad said the government had been trying to make the public transport system environment friendly for the past two years by controlling the smoke and noise pollution. The government had already imposed a ban on the manufacture and registration of two-stroke rickshaws in the province and was promoting the use of CNG and four-stroke public transport by offering incentives to the transporters.

The delegation has arrived here recently on a study tour of the province for examining the noise and smoke pollution and proposing measures for its control and has held detailed meetings with the Punjab Planning and Development Board chairman and environment and transport secretaries.