Latest news with #ImranHamidSheikh
Business Recorder
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Business Recorder
Punjab extends deadline for vehicle emissions testing
LAHORE: The Punjab Environment Protection Department (EPD) has extended the deadline for vehicle emissions testing in Lahore from June 30 to August 31, 2025, following a surge in public response at testing booths across the city. Director General of Punjab EPA, Imran Hamid Sheikh, said the decision was taken to accommodate the growing number of vehicle owners rushing to comply with the regulation. He noted that the extension would help reduce long queues and ensure smoother implementation of the emissions control program. According to EPD spokesperson, Sajid Bashir Ahmad said more than 123,000 vehicles have been tested over the past 50 days. Out of these, around 2,000 vehicles were found to be emitting pollutants beyond permissible limits. The owners of these vehicles were issued warnings and instructed to take corrective measures. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
25-06-2025
- Automotive
- Express Tribune
Punjab extends vehicle emission testing deadline to August 31
Listen to article The Punjab Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has extended the deadline for vehicle emission testing until 31 August, providing motorists with additional time to meet environmental standards. The original deadline of 30 June was pushed back due to an overwhelming response at testing booths, according to Imran Hamid Sheikh, Director General of the EPA Punjab. "The extension is intended to facilitate the public and ensure a smoother testing process," he added. In the past 50 days, over 123,000 vehicles have undergone testing across the province. Among them, approximately 2,000 vehicles were found to be emitting pollutants beyond acceptable limits. Owners of these vehicles have been issued warnings and advised to make necessary repairs or tune their engines to reduce emissions. Read: Smoke emitting vehicles' owners given 15 days deadline Emission testing is a scientific procedure that measures the levels of toxic gases and particulate matter released from vehicle exhausts. Key pollutants assessed during testing include carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and particulate matter (PM). If a vehicle fails the test, the owner is instructed to take corrective action. According to DG EPA, vehicles manufactured in 2022 or later are exempt from testing as they comply with modern Euro emission standards and come with in-built emission control technologies. As per statistics obtained from the Punjab Excise Department, the province has 20m registered motorcycles and five million four-wheeled vehicles, with Lahore alone accounting for 5.2m motorcycles and 1.3m four-wheeled vehicles. The EPA has urged vehicle owners to utilise the extended timeline to contribute to cleaner air. Free testing booths have been set up across Punjab, including 20 locations in Lahore, where motorists can have their vehicles tested without any additional fee. This initiative is part of Punjab's broader strategy to combat air pollution, particularly in Lahore and other urban areas where air quality has become a significant public health concern. Read more: Govt launches National Electric Vehicle Policy In a separate development, a few days ago, the Government of Pakistan launched the New Electric Vehicle Policy (NEVP), which aims to stimulate the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) across the country. Muhammad Saleem Shaikh, spokesperson for the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, stated that the policy is designed to ensure a just and inclusive transition to cleaner mobility. The initiative also seeks to reduce the country's dependency on fossil fuels, encourage local innovation, and create new green jobs. "The government is stepping up efforts to promote the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) as a key part of the country's clean energy and climate resilience agenda," Shaikh remarked. With the transport sector being a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and urban air pollution, the shift towards EVs marks a significant move towards a more sustainable, healthier, and economically viable future. The NEVP aligns with the broader strategy to combat air pollution, especially in urban centres like Lahore, where air quality continues to be a serious concern.
Business Recorder
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- Business Recorder
LTVs not older than 3 years exempted from emission testing: EPA
LAHORE: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Tuesday announced that all cars and light transport vehicles (LTVs), not older than three years, are now exempt from the emission testing requirement as they do not significantly contribute to ambient air pollution. According to an order issued by EPA Director General Dr Imran Hamid Sheikh, EPA Punjab, vide Order No 240/PA/DG/EPA/2025 dated 16.04.2025, issued directives under Section 6(1)(t) of the Punjab Environmental Protection Act, 1997, for the testing of vehicular emissions from cars and LTVs to ensure conformity with the Punjab Environmental Quality Standards (PEQS). The order further stated that data collected and analyzed over the past month by EPA Punjab indicates that newly manufactured vehicles - particularly those not older than three years from their year of manufacture (i.e., 2022) - have consistently demonstrated compliance with prescribed emission standards during the initial years of operation, provided they are properly maintained in accordance with manufacturer specifications. 'It has further been observed that such vehicles, due to their recent manufacture and the incorporation of advanced emission control technologies, do not significantly contribute to ambient air pollution. Their immediate inclusion in routine emission testing may not yield proportionate environmental benefits, while potentially overstretching enforcement capacity and placing an undue regulatory burden on the owners of already compliant vehicles,' added the DG. The DG, in view of the aforementioned findings, amended his earlier order to declare that all cars and LTVs not older than three years from their year of manufacture (i.e., 2022) are hereby exempted from the emission testing requirement. This order shall come into force with immediate effect, the DG concluded. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
03-06-2025
- Automotive
- Business Recorder
EPA bans substandard fuel
LAHORE: The Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has imposed a province-wide ban on the use of substandard fuel in motor vehicles, declaring that no vehicle on Punjab's roads may operate using petrol or high-speed diesel that does not meet the specifications approved by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA). In a notification issued by EPA Director General Dr Imran Hamid Sheikh, it was stated that violations of this order will be punishable under Section 17 of the Punjab Environmental Protection Act, 1997. An EPA spokesperson clarified that any petrol or diesel lacking OGRA-approved standards will be deemed substandard. Vehicles running on such fuels will be prohibited from using public roads. Moreover, no petrol pump will be allowed to store or sell fuel that does not comply with OGRA standards. The directive takes immediate effect across Punjab, and inspections at fuel stations are set to begin without delay, according to the DG Environment. 'Strict action will be taken against all retailers and suppliers found dealing in substandard fuel,' Dr Imran warned, adding that enforcement teams will ensure full compliance with the new policy. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Punjab rolls out 'Hawk Eye' surveillance
The Punjab Environmental Protection Department has launched Pakistan's first aerial surveillance initiative by establishing a dedicated drone-based monitoring company. The innovative step, spearheaded by Director General Environment Imran Hamid Sheikh, is part of the cutting-edge "Hawk Eye Project," which formally commenced aerial environmental monitoring across the province. According to department officials, thermal technology-equipped drones and a specially trained GIS wing have been deployed in the field. These advanced drones will not only identify industries and entities engaged in environmentally harmful activities but will also provide oversight on the performance of field staff, ensuring accountability. DG Imran Hamid Sheikh stated that under the Hawk Eye Project, a comprehensive e-mapping of all industries and brick kilns across Punjab has begun. He emphasised that aerial surveillance would allow for real-time detection of environmental violations, significantly improving enforcement mechanisms. During the project's inaugural surveillance operation, the GIS team identified three active pyrolysis plants in the Mehmood Booti area of Lahore. A detailed report was immediately submitted to the DG Environment, and an explanation will be sought from the Lahore field office regarding the matter. Furthermore, the team discovered four other industrial units and an empty plot containing hundreds of sacks filled with carbon. Experts have warned that such carbon stockpiles pose significant environmental risks and require urgent action. Authorities assert that the Hawk Eye Project represents a groundbreaking step in environmental monitoring and marks the beginning of a new era in environmental governance in Punjab. Meanwhile, terming it a "defining moment" in the provincial government's efforts to combat climate change challenges, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said the launch of Pakistan's first-ever smart environmental protection force was a bold leap toward a cleaner, greener and climate-resilient future. "Equipped with drone surveillance, real-time AQI monitors, mobile labs, and specialiSed squads across key sectorsindustry, water, plastic, agriculture, transport, and fuelthis pioneering Force is committed to rapid response, accurate enforcement, and sustained air quality improvement," she said in a post on 'X'.
