Punjab’s Green Sticker Drive Towards Cleaner Air
Punjab is breathing change — quite literally.
Under the visionary Transport 2030 agenda of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the Transport & Mass Transit Department has launched one of the province’s most ambitious environmental campaigns: the Vehicle Emission Testing System (ETS) and the issuance of the iconic Green Sticker — a badge of responsibility for every vehicle owner in Punjab.
The deadline is clear: Get your vehicle emission tested and obtain the Green Sticker before 30 June 2026. This is not just a government directive — it is a call to every citizen to take ownership of the air their children breathe.
🌫️ Why This Matters: The Smog Crisis
For years, Punjab — especially Lahore — has suffered under a dangerous blanket of smog during winter months. According to the EPA, over 70% of Punjab’s air pollution comes from untested or poorly maintained vehicles, making vehicle emissions one of the single biggest contributors to the province’s deteriorating air quality. The consequences are not just environmental — they are deeply personal: rising respiratory illnesses, reduced visibility, school closures, and an economic cost that affects everyone.
The Green Sticker initiative is the government’s most direct answer to this crisis.
🔬 How the Emission Testing System Works
The process is designed to be fast, accessible, and free. The testing process is comprehensive yet efficient, taking only 5 minutes per vehicle, with facilities processing 700 to 800 cars daily. A digital meter is connected to the vehicle’s exhaust to measure carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbons (HC), and nitrogen oxide (NOx) levels.
Under the Punjab Environmental Quality Standards, vehicles are allowed up to 6 percent carbon monoxide emissions, and specific noise level limits have also been set. Vehicles that pass the test receive the Green Sticker — officially certifying them as environmentally compliant. Those that fail are given time to rectify issues such as cleaning or replacing catalytic converters before a retest.
Vehicles up to three years old are exempted from Emission Testing, providing relief to owners of newer vehicles while focusing enforcement where it matters most.
🏗️ Expanding Access Across Punjab
The formal launch of this system was carried out by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, who placed the first Green Sticker on her own vehicle. Since then, the programme has grown rapidly. The number of emission testing booths was increased from 8 to 60 across Lahore to accommodate the growing number of vehicles and reduce wait times.
The drive has also expanded well beyond Lahore. The programme has expanded to include testing facilities in Sahiwal, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Multan and other cities, making it a truly province-wide initiative. Testing booths are accessible daily, with both morning and evening shifts at key locations, including universities, parks, and major road intersections.
The EPD has also introduced a helpline (1373) and the Green Punjab App to guide citizens, provide real-time updates, and address queries.
⚠️ What Happens After the Deadline?
The current phase is voluntary and free — but enforcement is coming. After the start of the smog season, vehicles without an emission sticker will be stopped and violators will be fined. The fine amount can range from Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 10,000, and vehicles can be temporarily impounded until a valid emission certificate is shown.
🌱 A Collective Responsibility
Under the slogan #WorkForGreenPunjab, people are encouraged to help clean the air by participating in free tests to measure vehicle emissions. So far, over 3.5 lakh vehicles have been issued Green Stickers — a remarkable milestone that shows citizens are ready to act.
The Green Sticker is more than a piece of paper on a windshield. It is a symbol of a cleaner Punjab that we build together — one vehicle, one test, one breath at a time.
Visit your nearest ETS booth today. The deadline is 30 June 2026. Don’t wait.
