The Punjab government is moving toward a cleaner, greener future — and petrol-run motorcycle rickshaws are among the first to go to fight smog.
At a special meeting of the provincial cabinet’s anti-smog committee, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz approved a series of strong measures to tackle dangerous air pollution that has been choking cities like Lahore for years.
Petrol Rickshaws and Bikes to Be Phased Out
One of the most important decisions was to ban the manufacturing of petrol-run motorcycle rickshaws. These three-wheelers are widely used for transport but are major contributors to urban air pollution because of their outdated engines and poor fuel efficiency.
The committee also approved a phased plan to gradually stop the production of petrol-run motorcycles altogether. Under this roadmap:
• Government departments will now only purchase electric or hybrid vehicles and e-bikes.
• Over time, petrol bikes will be replaced by cleaner alternatives, especially in public fleets.
This shift is meant to send a clear signal: the future of mobility in Punjab is electric and low-emission.
New Rules at Home and on the Roads
To further tackle pollution and water waste, the committee also:
• Banned washing vehicles at home, where untreated water often flows into streets and drains.
• Ordered the installation of colour-coded waste bins across Punjab in line with international standards, to improve waste management and recycling.
Read more: Pakistan’s worst smog: Here’s how it affects your health and how to protect yourself
Officials keep on stressing that activities that are proven to be lethal for public health and the environment will now be penalized more strictly. Burning plastic, trash, or other toxic materials will result in severe fines and legal action.
Workshops will also be set up under a public-private partnership to regularly test vehicle emissions. Cars and bikes emitting smoke beyond allowed limits will be forced to fix their engines or just need to stay off the road.
Tech-Driven Fight Against Smog
Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb has given a briefing about the meeting on Punjab’s wider war against smog. The province has launched its first state-of-the-art Air Quality Monitoring Network, with 41 monitors in 18 districts, and another 100 sensors planned by next year. An AQI Forecast System now assist in predicting smog and pollution levels in advance so authorities can act early.
Officials also highlighted that in Lahore and surrounding districts, crop-burning incidents have dropped by 88% thanks to drone surveillance and satellite monitoring. Punjab has also launched:
• Pakistan’s first “Eco Chatbot”, a mobile app and public dashboard for environmental updates.
• An emission-testing system that has already checked 300,000 vehicles.
• A dedicated “Smog War Room” at the Punjab Safe Cities Authority for round-the-clock monitoring.
Why This Matters
Lahore recently ranked second on the global pollution index, with AQI readings in some areas reaching shockingly high levels. The government’s new measures – especially phasing out petrol rickshaws and bikes – aim to protect children, commuters, and workers who breathe this air every day.
The message is clear: unchecked pollution is no longer an acceptable cost of mobility and convenience in Punjab.