ISLAMABAD: In a determined effort to tackle the capital’s worsening air quality, the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA), in collaboration with the Islamabad police, on Sunday resumed its post-Eid vehicle emission testing campaign across the city.

The drive, which restarted on June 12 following the Eidul Azha holidays, was part of a broader initiative to curb harmful vehicular emissions and ensure cleaner air for Islamabad’s residents, says a press release issued on Sunday Director General of Pakistan-Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) Nazia Zaib Ali said: “We have launched a vehicle emission testing campaign in Islamabad to protect the environment and public health from adverse impacts of growing air pollution levels caused due to vehicular carbon emissions.”

The vehicle testing activity resumed in different parts of the capital city after Eid holidays from June 12 with inspection teams composed of Pak-EPA and Islamabad police deployed at two high-traffic locations — Mundi police checkpost near Metro Mall and Faizabad Interchange on the Islamabad-Lahore route, the DG Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency said.

These checkpoints were strategically chosen for their heavy vehicular flow, making them effective points for monitoring and enforcement,” the head of the capital’s environmental watchdog added.

Sharing statistical data from the two-day joint vehicle emission testing operations conducted by Pak-EPA and Islamabad police, the DG Pak-EPA stated that the smoke emission levels of most vehicles inspected fell within the 10pc to 40pc range.

However, challan tickets were issued to owners of vehicles whose emissions exceeded the 60pc threshold.

The DG Pak-EPA said this ongoing campaign highlighted the commitment of her organisation and the Islamabad police to uphold environmental regulations and encourage responsible vehicle maintenance for achieving environmental sustainability and protecting public health from adverse impacts of air pollution.

She also urged all vehicle owners in Islamabad to regularly maintain their vehicles to meet legal emission limits and contribute to a cleaner urban environment as an environmentally-responsible citizens.

Nazia Zaib Ali also pledged to continue the vehicle emission testing drive in other parts of the city in the coming weeks with the goal of enhancing compliance and achieving lasting improvements in air quality.

“In fact, this initiative underscores the joint commitment of Pak-EPA and Islamabad police to enforce environmental regulations and promote sustainable urban living,” she added.

Published in Dawn, June 16th, 2025