Punjab Orders Traffic Police Crackdown on Smoky Vehicles Before Smog Season
Punjab Traffic Police are reported to be checking smoky vehicles, loads without tarpaulins and missing lights, with EPA. No fine was given. What to fix first.
Punjab Traffic Police have been told to check smoke-emitting vehicles with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Transport Department, as the smog season begins. The order also covers tarpaulins on loaded trucks, working lights and reflective tape. No fine amounts were reported.
It was reported on 7 October 2026 that the Punjab SSP Headquarters, Syed Nadeem Abbas, sent the directive to all Chief Traffic Officers and District Police Officers. We could not find the order on a Punjab Police or EPA page when we looked on 8 October, so every detail of it below is reported, not confirmed by the police.
The order targets smoky and loaded heavy vehicles
The directive is reported to cover smoke-emitting vehicles, commercial and heavy transport vehicles, loaders, tractor-trolleys and motorcycles, and vehicles carrying sand, construction waste and hay. The three agencies are to carry out joint checks.
| Detail | As reported on 7 October |
|---|---|
| Who issued it | SSP Headquarters, to all CTOs and DPOs |
| Who checks | Traffic Police, EPA and Transport Department together |
| Vehicles named | Smoky, commercial, heavy, loaders, tractor-trolleys, motorcycles |
| Fine amounts | Not given in the report |
| End date | Not given in the report |
That gap matters. A crackdown with no stated fine or date is hard to plan around. If you run a vehicle, assume checks can happen on any road from now.
Loaded trucks must be covered with a tarpaulin
The report says vehicles that carry sand, construction waste or hay must be covered with a tarpaulin. The aim is to stop dust and loose material blowing onto roads, which adds to the particles in the air that make smog worse.
Hay and straw loads are the obvious ones in October, as farms clear fields. Anyone moving bales on a trolley should have a sheet over the top before leaving the yard.
Cover the load, tie it down and check that it will not slip at speed. A loose sheet on a motorway is its own hazard.
Lights and reflective tape are part of the same order
The report says working headlights, rear lights, fog lights and indicators are mandatory, and that commercial and heavy vehicles need reflective tape and stickers. It also says heavy vehicles should not park on the carriageway in fog-affected areas.
This links smog to fog, which arrive together on Punjab's roads from late autumn. Our guide to fog and motorway closures sets out when the roads close and how to drive when visibility drops.
A heavy vehicle parked on the carriageway at night with no tape is how pile-ups start. That is a reasonable thing to enforce. How it will be enforced is the part we have not seen.
Check your own vehicle before the checks start
Smoke is a sign of an engine that needs work. A vehicle that puffs black smoke on acceleration is wasting fuel too, so a tune-up pays for itself. Commercial owners in Punjab should also confirm their vehicle fitness certificate is current, because the Transport Department is part of these checks.
- Look at the exhaust after a cold start and under hard acceleration. Black or thick white smoke means service.
- Test all lights, including fog lights and indicators.
- Fit reflective tape if you drive a commercial or heavy vehicle.
- Buy a tarpaulin big enough for the whole load and carry it every trip.
- Keep your fitness and registration papers in the cab.
We have not tested any workshop or tune-up service. Use a garage you already trust.
Report a smoky vehicle through the Green Punjab app
The Environment Protection Department's own site says citizens can file complaints about smoke-emitting vehicles on the Green Punjab app, and that it reports them to the right authorities. The department lists the helpline 1373, which it labels for ETS and other inquiries.
Note the plate number, place and time before you report, and send a photo if you can do it safely. Do not film from a moving car. For the full route, and for burning of crop residue, see the rules on crop burning and how to report it.
For the bigger picture of what protects you in the season itself, read what actually works against smog in Punjab.
Common questions
Who ordered the crackdown on smoky vehicles?
It was reported that the SSP Headquarters in Punjab sent the order to all Chief Traffic Officers and District Police Officers on 7 October 2026.
How much is the fine for a smoky vehicle?
The report gave no fine amount. We have not found a figure on an official page, so we are not quoting one.
Does it apply to motorcycles?
Yes, motorcycles are reported among the vehicles to be checked, along with loaders and tractor-trolleys.
Do I need a tarpaulin on every truck?
Vehicles carrying sand, construction waste and hay are reported to need one. Use one on any load that can blow away.
How do I report a smoking vehicle?
Use the Green Punjab app, which the EPA lists for complaints about smoke-emitting vehicles. The helpline 1373 is also listed.
Does this cover Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa?
No. The order is reported for Punjab. Smog rules and enforcement are provincial.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked 8 October 2026. The order, its issuer, the vehicles named, the joint checks and the lighting and parking requirements were reported on 7 October 2026. We did not find the order itself on a Punjab Police or EPA web page, so we treat it as an announcement and not as a notified rule. We read the Environment Protection Department Punjab website, epd.punjab.gov.pk, on 8 October 2026, for the Green Punjab app description and the 1373 helpline. We have not tested the app or the helpline. Fines for smoky vehicles are set by Punjab law, and we did not find a current amount, so check with the Traffic Police or the department before relying on one.
About the author
Senior Writer, Public Services and Technology
Shahid joined us in 2024 as an author. He is a senior contributor to Pakistan's leading technology websites. He writes detailed articles, mostly covering his expertise in the latest tech, mobiles, apps, gadgets, and step-by-step guides. His ideology is to help people understand the latest trends and explain complex methods through very easy-to-understand guides.
