The Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) has ramped up its campaign against the thickening winter smog in Islamabad, launching a comprehensive crackdown on polluting vehicles and industrial units, demolishing non-compliant brick kilns, and establishing new emission-testing stations across the city. As the federal capital faces rising air pollution this season, authorities say they are determined to prevent Islamabad from suffering the severe smog episodes that have plagued other cities in northern Pakistan.
Since December 1, 2025, Pak-EPA—working closely with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination (MoCC), Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP), Capital Development Authority (CDA), and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Administration—has inspected more than 1,000 diesel-powered vehicles at major entry points to the city, according to the agency’s Director General Nazia Zaib Ali. Over 300 challans have been issued, and more than 80 vehicles have been impounded for violating National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS) relating to emissions and noise, as reported by APP and corroborated by Pak-EPA’s own enforcement data.
To support these enforcement efforts, four new Emission Testing Stations have been established at D-Chowk, Lake View Park, Metro Cash & Carry, and F-9 Park, where vehicle owners can have their cars inspected and receive compliance certificates. "We cannot allow non-compliant vehicles at any cost to poison the city’s air and endanger public health," Ms. Ali emphasized, speaking to APP. "Our enforcement teams are in the field every day and violators are being penalized without exception. Anti-smog guns, enhanced monitoring, and real-time inspections are part of our immediate response to this health emergency."
Smog—a dangerous blend of fog and airborne pollutants like nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, sulphur oxides, and particulate matter—has reached alarming levels across northern Pakistan this winter. Recent research cited by Ms. Ali underscores the gravity of the problem: the transport sector is the largest contributor to poor air quality, responsible for nearly 43 percent of smog-forming emissions in Punjab. The situation is even more dire in Lahore, where a 2023 Urban Unit study found the sector accounts for a staggering 83 percent of emissions.
But vehicles aren’t the only culprits. Pak-EPA Director Dr. Zaigham Abbas told reporters that the crackdown on industrial pollution has also intensified. All 30 brick kilns operating in the capital have now shifted to environment-friendly zigzag technology—a significant milestone in the city’s fight against air pollution. Three non-compliant kilns were demolished as part of the drive. In Sangjani, a hub for marble factories, 32 out of 48 units have been found compliant, while 16 remain under scrutiny and three have already been sealed. Meanwhile, in the I-10 Industrial Area, two steel manufacturing units have been under continuous monitoring since 2018, with live camera feeds tracking stack emissions and raw material handling around the clock.
"We have adopted a zero-tolerance approach towards industries operating with outdated and polluting technologies," Dr. Abbas stated. "Our goal is not only enforcement but also helping industries transition to cleaner and safer production systems." Scheduled inspections of industrial units across the capital are ongoing, with a clear focus on ensuring compliance and encouraging the adoption of modern, environmentally friendly technologies.
The agency’s strategy is multi-tiered, targeting both immediate and long-term improvements in air quality. In the short term, Pak-EPA is deploying anti-smog guns in hotspot areas, tightening checks on ageing and high-emission vehicles, and enforcing a strict ban on the entry of non-compliant transport into Islamabad. Industrial emissions are being monitored more frequently, with joint operations by Pak-EPA, CDA, and the ICT Administration scaled up to cover more ground.
Medium-term measures are also in the pipeline. These include expanding the air quality monitoring network, enhancing the agency’s technical capacity, coordinating with provincial Environmental Protection Agencies to address cross-border smog sources, and launching extensive tree plantation campaigns throughout the city. The legal framework governing environmental protection is being revised to strengthen enforcement and close loopholes that have allowed polluters to operate with impunity in the past.
Long-term strategies are equally ambitious. According to APP, Pak-EPA plans to implement the Electric Vehicle Policy 2025, introduce retirement schemes for old vehicles, ensure wider access to clean fuels, and enforce the National Clean Air Policy 2023. These efforts are designed to not only address the current smog crisis but also lay the groundwork for a cleaner, more sustainable urban environment in the years ahead.
Public awareness and cooperation are crucial to the plan’s success. Ministry spokesperson Muhammad Saleem Shaikh told reporters that extensive awareness campaigns have been launched through the media, urging citizens to do their part to combat smog. Notices have been served to 28 government and private organizations in Islamabad for failing to have their vehicle fleets tested, underscoring the authorities’ commitment to holding all polluters accountable, regardless of sector or ownership.
Ms. Ali stressed the importance of community involvement: "The federal watchdog’s efforts alone are not enough. With public support, Islamabad can avoid severe smog episodes seen in other cities." She urged residents to reduce unnecessary travel, use masks on high-smog days, improve indoor air quality, and avoid the open burning of waste. These individual actions, she noted, can make a tangible difference in the fight against air pollution.
The agency’s approach has not been without challenges. Coordinating among multiple agencies, ensuring compliance across a diverse industrial landscape, and changing entrenched behaviors in the transport sector all require persistent effort and public buy-in. Still, authorities remain optimistic. The successful transition of all brick kilns in Islamabad to zigzag technology is a testament to what can be achieved when government, industry, and the community work together toward a common goal.
Looking ahead, the expansion of the air quality monitoring network and the implementation of new policies are expected to provide more accurate data and stronger enforcement tools. Tree plantation campaigns, for instance, are not just symbolic gestures—they are scientifically proven to help absorb pollutants and improve urban air quality over time.
As the winter smog season continues, Islamabad finds itself at a crossroads. Will the city’s aggressive anti-smog measures be enough to stave off the choking haze that has become all too familiar in neighboring regions? Authorities are betting that a combination of strict enforcement, technological upgrades, public engagement, and long-term policy reforms will tip the balance in favor of cleaner air.
For now, the message from Pak-EPA is clear: there is no room for complacency. Every vehicle owner, factory operator, and resident has a role to play in safeguarding the capital’s air. It’s a fight that demands vigilance, cooperation, and a willingness to embrace change—for the health of Islamabad’s people and the future of its environment.
