Lahore, April 21, 2025: In a major policy shift aimed at tackling worsening air pollution, the Punjab government is set to make fitness certificates mandatory for motorcycles, marking the first time two-wheelers will be formally brought under the province’s vehicle fitness regime.
The move is part of proposed amendments to the Provincial Motor Vehicles Amendment Act 2025, which seeks to revise the decades-old Provincial Motor Vehicles Ordinance of 1965. The draft legislation has been referred to the relevant committee and is expected to be presented in the Punjab Assembly in the coming weeks.
Under the proposed revisions, Section 38-A of the ordinance will be updated to explicitly include motorcycles in the category of vehicles requiring annual fitness certification.
“Currently, fitness certification applies only to motor vehicles, but motorcycles account for nearly 85% of transportation in Punjab,” the bill text notes. “Expanding the scope of the fitness regime is essential to combat smog and enhance air quality.”
Officials believe the introduction of fitness standards for motorcycles—similar to those already in place for cars and other motor vehicles—will significantly reduce harmful emissions and promote adherence to environmental safety protocols across the province.
Once implemented, motorcycle owners will be required to obtain a fitness certificate valid for one year, aligning with the existing annual requirement for other motor vehicles.
This initiative is part of Punjab’s broader environmental strategy to reduce smog and mitigate the effects of climate change, particularly in high-risk urban centers such as Lahore, where air quality frequently falls to hazardous levels during the winter months.
If passed, the amendment will be a landmark step in enforcing vehicle emissions standards and promoting cleaner transportation solutions across Pakistan’s most populous province.
