Punjab Bans Vehicles Without Green Stickers Amid Rising Smog Crisis

RAWALPINDI, October 31, 2025:
As air pollution reaches alarming levels across Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Murree, Punjab authorities have announced a strict ban on vehicles without green stickers or valid fitness certificates to tackle the worsening smog crisis.

The smog alert season will officially run from November 1, 2025, to January 31, 2026, or until pollution levels improve. The Punjab Environmental Protection Department has also approved a province-wide anti-smog campaign beginning November 15, targeting smoke-emitting vehicles—especially heavy public transport and goods carriers operating between major districts.

Under the new policy, vehicles without Environmental Testing System (ETS) certificates or green stickers will be impounded, and their drivers will face heavy fines and legal action. Authorities have enforced a zero-tolerance policy for vehicles contributing to environmental degradation, with mandatory exhaust testing for all types of transport.

Currently, the Air Quality Index (AQI) stands at worrying levels: 177 in Islamabad, 171 in Rawalpindi, 158 in Murree, 150 in Chakwal, 161 in Jhelum, and 138 in Attock.
The deteriorating air quality has caused a sharp rise in respiratory and skin diseases including asthma, bronchitis, and throat infections, leading to an influx of patients in hospitals across the region.

Industrial Crackdown: Non-Compliant Marble Factories Sealed

In a parallel move to curb industrial pollution, the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA), in collaboration with the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Administration, sealed several marble factories near Sector B-17, Islamabad for violating the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997.

According to Muhammad Saleem Shaikh, spokesperson for the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, these factories were identified as major contributors to dust emissions and air pollution in the federal capital.

The operation, supervised by Director General Nazia Zeb Ali, found that several units ignored repeated warnings to install dust control systems. The excessive release of fine particulate matter from marble cutting and polishing was found to be a major factor worsening ambient air pollution and reducing visibility during the ongoing smog season.

Consequently, Environmental Protection Orders (EPOs) were issued, and non-compliant factories were sealed for repeated violations. Officials reaffirmed that similar enforcement actions will continue until all industrial units adhere to environmental regulations.