Lahore Challans 11,871 Smoke-Emitting Vehicles
Lahore smoke emitting vehicles face a fresh crackdown, with traffic police challaning 11,871 of them for excessive smoke as the city steps up action against its worsening smog.
Chief Traffic Officer Syed Abdul Raheem Shirazi said traffic police had issued challan tickets to the smoke-emitting vehicles. They had also taken action against 7,919 vehicles carrying sand, soil and other polluting materials without tarpaulin covers.
Police had further acted against 25,833 vehicles running without fitness certificates or in poor condition. Another 253,286 vehicles were fined for overloading. ProPakistani reported the enforcement figures on Wednesday.
Lahore smoke emitting vehicles: licences and permits at risk
Shirazi said the authorities were suspending the driving licences of drivers who run highly smoke-emitting vehicles. They could also suspend the route permits of commercial vehicles caught breaking the rules.
He added that traffic police were using artificial intelligence to identify vehicles that emit smoke. The technology helps officers spot offenders in traffic without stopping every vehicle on the road.
The crackdown is part of a wider push against smog in the city. Separately, Lahore Police have arrested 67 suspects and registered 40 cases this year for violating environmental laws. Officers are taking action against polluting factories, vehicles and barbecue points.
Smog season puts Lahore under strain
The enforcement drive lands as Lahore faces another smog season. The city has ranked among the most polluted in the world in recent weeks, and the air has stayed thick with haze on many days.
Lahore’s air has been worse than Delhi and Kolkata at times, and Punjab has blamed Diwali fireworks for part of the toxic air. Smoke from vehicles is one of the local sources the authorities can act on directly, which is why the traffic police drive matters.
The numbers show how wide the net has been cast. More than 250,000 vehicles were fined for overloading, and tens of thousands more for fitness and cover violations. The 11,871 smoke challans are the core of the campaign, but the other actions show the police are checking the whole fleet, not only the worst offenders.
Smog has already gripped parts of Punjab, with very poor air readings near Wagha. The province has tried a mix of steps, from closing brick kilns to fining polluters, yet the air stays bad when the weather traps pollution close to the ground.
What drivers should know
The message for drivers is clear. A vehicle that pumps out visible smoke risks a challan, a suspended licence and, for commercial operators, a suspended route permit. Vehicles without a fitness certificate face action too, as do trucks carrying uncovered sand or soil.
Lahore has also doubled fines for e-challans if they are not paid within 10 days, so a ticket left unpaid can cost twice as much. The police say the aim is to push owners to fix their vehicles rather than to keep paying fines.
For residents, the drive offers some hope of cleaner air. Yet the figures also show the scale of the task. Tens of thousands of vehicles on Lahore’s roads are in poor shape, and the smog will not lift until the fleet improves and the weather changes.
Frequently asked questions
How many smoke-emitting vehicles were challaned in Lahore?
Lahore Traffic Police issued challans to 11,871 vehicles for emitting excessive smoke.
What happens to drivers of smoke-emitting vehicles?
Their driving licences are being suspended. Commercial vehicles can also have their route permits suspended.
How is the police finding smoke-emitting vehicles?
Traffic police are using artificial intelligence to identify vehicles that emit smoke, alongside checkpoints and patrols.
What other action has been taken in the smog crackdown?
Police acted against 7,919 vehicles without tarpaulin covers, 25,833 vehicles without fitness certificates or in poor condition, and 253,286 vehicles for overloading. Lahore Police also arrested 67 suspects and registered 40 cases this year for environmental violations.
