Islamabad has rolled out stricter rules for vehicle emission testing to help fight air pollution and improve air quality in the capital.
Authorities have now made emissions testing mandatory for older vehicles, those built in 2015 or earlier must undergo the test every year, and get a clearance sticker if they pass.
The government has expanded the number of inspection points. Drivers can now get their cars tested at four locations across the city: D‑Chowk, Lake View Park, F‑9 Park, and Metro Cash & Carry. To make testing more convenient, inspections will be available on Saturdays as well, up to 4 PM.
These new rules follow recent efforts by the Islamabad Transport Authority (ITA) and Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak‑EPA) to expand emission checks from government vehicles to private cars, buses, and taxis.
Officials say the move aims to reduce harmful exhaust gases from older vehicles, a major cause of smog and air pollution in urban areas. They hope that mandatory testing and certificate enforcement will encourage vehicle maintenance and lower emissions from the road.
While many citizens support the efforts to clean the air and make Islamabad healthier, some have raised concerns over potential long waiting times at inspection points.
Still, authorities believe that the expanded locations and Saturday testing will help ease the crowd and make compliance easier.
Overall, the new emission-testing policy represents a big shift toward environmental responsibility in Islamabad. Car owners are urged to get their vehicles tested as soon as possible to avoid fines and help make the city’s air cleaner.
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