ISLAMABAD: The Ombudsman has taken notice of the traffic snarls at D-Chowk in Islamabad and summoned ICT administration and environment officers on Aug 29 to explain the causes of these disruptions.

According to details, the environment division has been conducting an exercise , for the past few weeks to check whether or not the vehicles plying in the capital are environment-friendly through a technical process.

For this purpose a camp has been set up at the D-Chowk, where the exercise commences in the morning and continues till late in the afternoon.

A number of concerned citizens have approached the Wafaqi Mohtasib Office in this connection, saying that the activity is causing great inconvenience to them and their families.

Responding to these complaints, the Ombudsmanhas initiated action.

According to the Ombudsman, the process itself has raised questions like why has a sensitive place like the Red Zone been chosen for the inspection of vehicles and placement of environmental stickers on them and whether any awareness campaign has preceded this activity.

He has also enquired why the organisation concerned has selected only one point in the entire federal metropolis for this purpose thereby causing huge congestion in the adjoining areas.

For this purpose, commissioner, deputy commissioner and director general environment have been summoned on Friday August 29to clarify the confusion.

Published in Dawn, August 27th, 2025