LAHORE (Dunya News) - Punjab authorities have decided to suspend the driving licences of motorists operating smoke-emitting vehicles as part of an intensified campaign to combat air pollution and reduce smog in Lahore.
The decision, announced by Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Syed Abdul Raheem Shirazi on Sunday, comes under the provincial government's anti-smog drive launched on the directives of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb.
Under the new enforcement measures, commercial vehicles found violating emission standards will also have their route permits suspended. The city traffic police have also prohibited the entry of tractor-trolleys and dumpers carrying sand, soil and other construction material without tarpaulin covers, warning that violators will face legal action.
Highlighting the scale of the campaign, Mr Shirazi said more than 114,000 smoke-emitting vehicles had been fined during the current fiscal year. Authorities also registered 1,401 cases under the anti-smog campaign, while action was taken against over 53,000 vehicles transporting uncovered construction material and 188,000 unfit vehicles.
He said traffic police were using an artificial intelligence-based system to detect vehicles causing excessive emissions and had written to several government departments, urging them to ensure their vehicle fleets complied with environmental standards.
The CTO reiterated that authorities would continue to enforce a zero-tolerance policy against vehicles contributing to air pollution, as Lahore prepares for the annual smog season.