LAHORE: In a significant policy shift, the Punjab government has forbidden the purchase of petrol and diesel vehicles for all departments, thus supporting the idea of cleaner and more sustainable transportation.
From now on, government institutions will be allowed to buy only electric or hybrid vehicles, except in the case of field operations, where restrictions will not apply.
The decision was reached after a senior meeting in Lahore, where Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb indicated that this initiative is in line with the vision of the Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif for a greener and more responsible Punjab in terms of the environment.
At the same time, the Chief Secretary of Punjab mentioned that the process of granting No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for the establishment of new petrol stations will now require the provision of electric vehicle charging facilities.
This initiative is a part of the overall strategy to facilitate the uptake of electric mobility in the province. The policy change is a tremendous step towards lessening the burden of carbon emissions and switching to greener methods of operation in the government sector.
