Lahore to Introduce New System to Detect Polluting Vehicles

The Environment Protection and Climate Change Department (EP&CCD) plans to deploy a vehicular emission scanning system in Lahore. The system will be installed at nine entry and exit points of the city to detect vehicles emitting excessive pollution. Remote sensing devices (RSDs) will be used at selected traffic corridors to measure emissions from moving vehicles without disrupting traffic flow.

This system will also record vehicle registration numbers and other relevant details, enabling authorities to link emission readings to specific vehicles.

EP&CCD Secretary Silwat Saeed highlighted that the technology will enable the department to screen a large number of vehicles under real-world driving conditions. Vehicle-specific data will support evidence-based regulation and help identify vehicles that require detailed testing or enforcement. The Lahore Air Improvement Framework (LAIF) is where this initiative falls.

A technical committee evaluated the Vehicular Emission Scanning System (VESS) component on August 24. The assessment covered equipment specifications, measurement accuracy, pollutant parameters, detection limits, vehicle speeds, and camera integration. The Punjab Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will set up a dedicated Vehicular Emission Testing Unit (VETU) to manage technical operations, quality assurance, and implementation.