Lahore to suspend permits of smoke vehicles

Lahore Traffic Police have announced plans to suspend the route permits and driving licences of commercial vehicle operators found driving smoke-emitting vehicles. The move is part of efforts to tackle smog in the city.

Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Lahore Syed Abdul Rahim Shirazi said strict action would be taken against vehicles contributing to air pollution. He added that the driving licences of those operating smoke-emitting vehicles would also be suspended.

The traffic police have intensified enforcement by setting up special late-night checkpoints to identify smoke-emitting, overloaded and poorly maintained vehicles.

The enforcement figures so far

According to the CTO, 9,998 tickets have been issued to smoke-emitting vehicles. Action has also been taken against 22,241 vehicles operating without fitness certificates or in poor condition.

Authorities have taken action against 233,476 vehicles for overloading. A further 6,745 vehicles transporting sand, soil and other pollution-causing materials without protective covers have also faced action.

The CTO announced that trolleys and dump trucks carrying sand and soil without protective covers would not be allowed to enter Lahore. Letters have been sent to several government and semi-government organisations to ensure the timely repair and maintenance of smoke-emitting vehicles.

Traffic police officials said enforcement measures would be further strengthened to control smog and reduce air pollution. They stressed that strict action is necessary to protect public health and safety.

Why the timing matters

The crackdown comes as Lahore faces another severe smog spell. Earlier on Thursday, Lahore topped the global pollution ranking, with air quality readings that put the city ahead of Cairo and Delhi.

For residents, vehicle smoke is only one part of the smog problem. Crop burning, industrial emissions, dust from construction and weather conditions all play a role. But vehicles are the source the traffic police can act on directly, street by street, and the new permit threat goes further than fines alone.

A ticket costs an operator money. Losing a route permit costs an operator a livelihood. That distinction is the point of the announcement: repeat offenders who treat fines as a cost of doing business now face losing the right to run the route at all.

The uncovered-loads rule targets a visible daily problem in the city. Sand and soil spilling from open trolleys coats roads in dust, which then rises again with every passing vehicle. Barring uncovered trucks from entering Lahore, if enforced at entry points, should cut that source at the boundary rather than chasing it inside the city.

What operators should do

The practical advice for commercial operators is straightforward. Get a fitness certificate, fix exhaust and engine faults, cover loads before entering the city, and avoid overloading. The enforcement figures show the checks are already happening at scale, and the late-night checkpoints mean the usual tactic of running faulty vehicles after dark is less safe than it was.

For commuters, the crackdown may mean short-term disruption as unfit vehicles are pulled off routes. The longer test is whether the permit suspensions hold, and whether repaired vehicles stay repaired once they return to the road.

Related coverage:

• https://featurepakistan.com/lahore-world-most-polluted-city-october-2026/
• https://featurepakistan.com/bajaur-pillion-riding-ban-10-days-october-2026/
• https://featurepakistan.com/online-fraud-very-active-pakistan-pta-warning-october-2026/
• https://featurepakistan.com/cyclone-arnab-deaths-aftermath-october-2026/

What action will Lahore police take against smoke-emitting vehicles?

They will suspend the route permits of commercial operators and the driving licences of drivers found operating smoke-emitting vehicles.

How many vehicles have already faced action?

Traffic police have issued 9,998 tickets to smoke-emitting vehicles, acted against 22,241 vehicles without fitness certificates or in poor condition, and acted against 233,476 vehicles for overloading.

Will uncovered sand and soil trucks be allowed into Lahore?

No. Trolleys and dump trucks carrying sand and soil without protective covers will not be allowed to enter the city.