Islamabad imposes new restriction to battle against smog

ISLAMABAD: To combat rising air pollution and smog levels in Islamabad, the Deputy Commissioner recently met with key stakeholders, including assistant commissioners, the Islamabad Transport Authority (ITA), and the Excise Department.

The Islamabad Transport Authority (ITA) has intensified inspections across the city to enforce new strict measures.

A recent inspection at the vegetable market, led by the ITA Secretary, checked several vehicles for emissions, resulting in fines for nine cars and warning letters for 27 others.

Daily monitoring operations are now in place to ensure compliance with emission standards. The Deputy Commissioner emphasized that these steps aim to prevent air pollution from worsening into severe smog conditions, ultimately creating a cleaner, healthier environment for Islamabad’s residents.

Measures to Combat Smog

The meeting resulted in stricter measures to reduce harmful emissions citywide, including the closure of all brick kilns in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) until further notice.

Factories emitting smoke will also be temporarily shut down to alleviate smog levels, and smoke-emitting vehicles will be banned from ICT roads.

Additionally, the open burning of garbage, leaves, or other materials is now prohibited, with authorities warning of strict penalties for activities harming the environment.