RAWALPINDI: In a fresh move to control air pollution, the Punjab government has ruled that every motorcycle must now carry a valid fitness certificate, a requirement that already applies to private cars.
Muhammad Hassan Ahsan, Secretary of the Punjab Provincial Transport Authority, told a private TV channel on Thursday that the Motor Vehicles Ordinance 1965 has been amended to add motorcycles to the list of vehicles needing a certificate.
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Paper challans have been scrapped; route permits will be issued online with a single click, reducing bribery.
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Special checks on smoke-emitting bikes will begin soon, while over-loaded vehicles remain a key focus.
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District-wide mapping to enforce the new rules has been completed.
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In April 2025, the Punjab government tabled a “smog-control” amendment bill in the provincial assembly. The draft—now passed—inserted the word motorcycle into Section 38-A of the 1965 Ordinance, making a one-year fitness certificate compulsory for two-wheelers.
Officials told lawmakers that motorcycles make up about 85 per cent of daily traffic in Punjab, so extending the certificate regime was vital to improve air quality. A standing committee reviewed the bill and reported back within two months, paving the way for this week’s enforcement.
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