LAHORE – The Punjab government decided to impose a ban on the purchase of petrol- and diesel-powered vehicles for government departments as part of its push to promote environmentally friendly transport across the province, the sources close to the development said on Wednesday.
The sources said that Punjab Chief Secretary, government departments would now be allowed to procure only electric or hybrid vehicles.
However, the vehicles required for field operations would be exempted from the restriction.
The decision forms part of broader provincial efforts to reduce carbon emissions and encourage the use of clean energy in the transport sector.
The Punjab Chief Secretary said that issuance of no-objection certificates (NOCs) for new petrol pumps will now be conditional on the installation of electric vehicle charging units. He added that no new petrol pump will be permitted to operate without an electric charging facility.
Emphasising environmental protection, the Chief Secretary said promotion of green energy remains a top priority for the provincial government, adding that a new electric vehicle policy for Punjab will be introduced soon.
He also said that the installation of electric charging units has been made mandatory for 170 new petrol pumps seeking NOCs. NOCs for these petrol pumps have been issued through the e-Biz Portal across 31 cities of Punjab.
The move follows recent initiatives by the Punjab government to expand electric and hybrid transport services in Lahore and other cities of the province.
