Punjab is getting tough on aging vehicles. Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan promulgated a new ordinance requiring end-of-life vehicles to be scrapped. Therefore, the province is pushing owners to dispose of polluting cars through authorized facilities. Moreover, this represents a major policy shift toward cleaner air.

The Provincial Motor Vehicles (Third Amendment) Ordinance 2026 took effect immediately. The Punjab Assembly wasn’t in session, so the governor acted directly. Consequently, owners must now scrap vehicles meeting specific criteria. Additionally, the law defines exactly which vehicles qualify.

A vehicle becomes end-of-life if registration expires or gets canceled. Furthermore, vehicles failing mandatory fitness or emission tests qualify. Also, severely damaged vehicles declared as scrap by owners apply. Therefore, multiple pathways trigger the scrapping requirement.

Owners can voluntarily send vehicles to authorized facilities. Additionally, the law defines scrapping as disposal, recycling, depollution, and parts recovery. Meanwhile, non-reusable components face crushing for recycling. Therefore, nothing goes to waste in this system.

Vehicle owners must use private authorized facilities or government-run centers. The Punjab Transport and Mass Transit Department can establish scrapping locations. Furthermore, the provincial government will issue detailed implementation rules later. These rules will specify vehicle age limits and testing procedures. Additionally, they’ll define authorized scrapping center responsibilities.

The ordinance aims to strengthen air quality management directly. Vehicle emissions plague Punjab’s cities with dangerous pollution levels. Therefore, removing old polluting vehicles addresses a critical problem. Moreover, the law supports the transition to electric vehicles. Additionally, it promotes environmentally friendly public transport options.

The policy will affect both private and commercial vehicle owners. Therefore, taxi operators and truck owners face new requirements. Meanwhile, the vehicle recycling industry should grow substantially. Additionally, entrepreneurs can establish new scrapping facilities across Punjab.

Officials acknowledged that detailed rules remain pending. Vehicle age limits haven’t been finalized yet. Testing procedures need specification. Authorized center standards require definition. Therefore, implementation will take several months to complete fully.

Finally, the end-of-life vehicles ordinance represents Punjab’s commitment to environmental protection and public health.