Islamabad has stepped up action against polluting vehicles as the ** Islamabad smog ** crisis continues to worsen. Authorities have set up checkpoints across the capital to stop vehicles emitting heavy smoke. The move aims to protect public health during the dangerous winter pollution season.
Truck driver Muhammad Afzal was surprised when police stopped him while entering Islamabad. Officers fined him Rs1,000 after spotting thick diesel smoke from his vehicle. He said the truck had recently been repaired in Lahore. Afzal claimed officials forced the accelerator to release smoke. He called the action unfair and said his truck could be impounded if the issue was not fixed.
The checkpoints are part of a wider smog crackdown launched this month. Winter conditions trap pollution close to the ground. This causes air quality to drop sharply. Officials say vehicle emissions are a major cause of ** Islamabad smog **.
Dr Zaigham Abbas of the Environmental Protection Agency said warnings were already issued. He said non-compliant vehicles will be denied entry into the city. Technicians at checkpoints inspect exhaust emissions. According to inspector Waleed Ahmed, older vehicles release harmful smoke that damages human health.
Islamabad’s air quality is now nearing levels seen in Lahore and Karachi. Data from Swiss firm IQAir shows seven “very unhealthy” days in December alone. PM2.5 levels crossed 150 micrograms per cubic meter. In 2024, Islamabad’s yearly PM2.5 average reached 52.3. This exceeded Lahore’s average. The World Health Organization recommends a safe level of only five.
Experts say the city’s design worsens the problem. Built in the 1960s, Islamabad relies heavily on private vehicles. Public transport remains limited. Older cars dominate the roads. Research groups say transport produces over half of the city’s toxic PM2.5 pollution. This makes ** Islamabad smog ** largely a self-inflicted crisis.
EPA chief Nazia Zaib Ali said more than 300 fines were issued in one week. Around 80 vehicles were impounded. She said polluting vehicles cannot be allowed to endanger lives. The city has also launched emissions testing stations. Vehicles that pass receive green stickers.
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Residents say health issues are rising fast. Many complain of allergies and breathing problems. Parents worry about children’s future. Experts warn that without stronger action, winter smog will continue to threaten Islamabad’s air and public health.
