LAHORE: The Punjab government has introduced a new legal framework for scrapping old, unfit and polluting vehicles, declaring certain categories of vehicles as “end-of-life vehicles” that can be sent to authorised scrapping facilities.
Under an amendment to the Provincial Motor Vehicles Ordinance, 1965, vehicles whose registration has expired or been cancelled may be classified as end-of-life vehicles and become eligible for scrapping.
Vehicles that fail to obtain mandatory fitness or emission certificates may also fall within the end-of-life category and face compulsory scrapping under the new framework.
The legislation also covers vehicles badly damaged in accidents, fires or natural disasters. Vehicle owners will also have the option to voluntarily surrender an old or unusable vehicle to an approved vehicle scrapping facility.
Under the new system, end-of-life vehicles will be taken to designated scrapping facilities. These may include privately operated centres as well as facilities established by the Punjab Transport and Mass Transit Department.
The scrapping process will involve removing pollutants and hazardous materials from vehicles before dismantling them. Parts that remain usable may be recovered, while unusable components will be recycled.
Vehicle frames and other components that cannot be reused may be crushed and processed for recycling in accordance with the prescribed procedure.
The Punjab government has been empowered to formulate detailed rules governing the scrapping process, including the operation of authorised facilities and procedures for handling end-of-life vehicles.
The initiative is aimed primarily at reducing air pollution caused by old and poorly maintained vehicles, particularly those that fail to meet fitness and emission standards.
Punjab has faced persistent air-quality problems, with vehicle emissions considered one of the contributors to pollution in major urban centres. Removing highly polluting vehicles from roads could therefore become an important part of the province’s broader environmental strategy.
