Pak-EPA carried out a focused compliance drive at the main Islamabad entry and exit point at T-Chowk near Rawat on the Islamabad Expressway in coordination with the Islamabad Traffic Police. The activity aimed to enforce the National Environmental Quality Standards for motor vehicle exhaust and noise within the Islamabad Capital Territory and to reduce local air pollution through targeted vehicular emissions monitoring.
The day-long inspection team was led by Dr. Zaigham Abbas, Deputy Director (Lab/NEQS), alongside Mr. Binyameen, Deputy Director (R&I), operating under the direction of the Director General Pak-EPA. Teams positioned at the traffic choke point measured smoke opacity and inspected vehicle documentation as part of routine compliance procedures.
The exercise concentrated on heavy-duty diesel vehicles, particularly those aged ten years and older, where smoke opacity testing showed a substantial number of vehicles exceeding permissible NEQS limits. The focus on older diesel units reflected targeted efforts to address a key source of particulate and black carbon emissions affecting Islamabad’s air quality.
Drivers whose vehicles violated standards were fined on the spot and instructed to obtain immediate tuning and maintenance. Inspectors also noted many vehicles operating without valid fitness certificates, highlighting enforcement gaps and the need for coordinated action across agencies to ensure roadworthiness and emissions compliance.
Following the findings, Pak-EPA is engaging with the Islamabad Transport Authority, Excise and Taxation Department ICT, and Islamabad Traffic Police to develop and implement a comprehensive vehicular emissions monitoring strategy. Continued joint action is planned to enforce NEQS, streamline fitness certification checks, and reduce harmful emissions at major entry points to the capital.
