LAHORE: In a decisive move toward environmental sustainability, the Punjab government has officially banned the procurement of petrol and diesel-powered vehicles for all provincial government departments. This initiative, which forms a core part of a broader strategy to combat urban pollution and promote green energy, restricts future official vehicle purchases exclusively to electric or hybrid models.
While this shift marks a significant change in policy, the government has provided an exemption for vehicles required for field duties to ensure that essential operational services across the province remain unaffected during the transition. According to Chief Secretary Punjab, Zahid Akhtar Zaman, the provincial government is also set to unveil a comprehensive new Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy aimed at accelerating the adoption of sustainable transport. A critical pillar of this reform is the mandatory integration of EV infrastructure within the private sector, as the issuance of No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for all new petrol pumps in the province has now been made strictly conditional upon the installation of electric vehicle charging units. Under these new regulations, no fuel station will be permitted to operate unless it provides these essential charging facilities.
The implementation of this policy is already well underway through the e-Biz portal, with NOCs having been issued for 170 new petrol pumps across 31 cities, all of which are bound by the mandatory charging unit requirement. The geographical distribution of these upcoming facilities is extensive, with 29 petrol pumps designated for Faisalabad and 14 for Lahore. Additionally, Bahawalpur will see 10 new pumps, while Khanewal and Bahawalnagar will each have nine stations equipped with charging units. Rawalpindi and Jhang have each received approval for eight new petrol pumps on the condition of installing electric charging units, while Toba Tek Singh, Mianwali, Kasur, and Chiniot will each have seven new petrol pumps complying with the same requirement.
The Punjab government reiterated that promoting green energy and environmentally sustainable transport remains a top priority for the administration. By establishing a reliable and accessible charging network through these new station approvals, the province aims to reduce the carbon footprint and provide the necessary infrastructure to support a wider transition toward clean energy vehicles.
