Emission compliance to cost vehicle owners

LAHORE:

The Punjab Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced a provincewide crackdown on vehicles operating without mandatory emission inspections.

The campaign set to begin on November 15 will bar all vehicles without a valid Green Sticker from entering motorways or city entry points, according to EPA spokesperson Sajid Bashir.

He emphasised that after the deadline, "No vehicle will be allowed to enter the motorway or any city entry point without a verified Green Sticker."

The EPA also released a new schedule of vehicle emission testing fees, which took effect on Monday. The spokesperson confirmed that the collection of emission test fees had commenced and it would be mandatory for all vehicle owners to obtain emission clearance before using the roads.

The EPA has categorised charges according to vehicle type and engine capacity.

The emission test fee for motorcycles has been fixed at Rs100, while rickshaws will be charged Rs300.

For cars up to 1,000cc the fee will be Rs500 whereas vehicles ranging from 1,000cc to 1,500cc will be charged Rs800. Owners of cars between 1,500cc and 2,500cc will pay Rs1,000 and those falling between 2,500cc and 4,500cc will incur a Rs1,500 fee. Vehicles above 4,500cc, will be charged Rs2,000 per test.

"The EPA Punjab has made it mandatory that all payments for emission tests will only be accepted through the e-Pay system," the spokesperson added.