LAHORE: Following the inauguration of the first-ever sophisticated vehicleinspection and certification system (v1cs) 10 days ago, the Punjab government is going to make the fitness certificates a must for getting route permits for public transport.

The government believes that this will primarily help avert road accidents which are caused by vehicles not ñtfor roads, annually claiming thousands of lives in the province.

According to official sources on Tuesday, the mandatory condition was being introduced through an ordinance that will amend the Provincial Motor Vehicles Ordinance, 1965, inserting wherein that `the applicant (for the route permit) shall, with his application, attach a copy of a valid Etness certiñcate issued by the prescribed authority for the transport vehicle.

A standard pattern of the certificate would also be included in the ordinance which had been sent to the gover-nor for approval, a source said.

The first-ever VICS that was inaugurated by the chief minister in Kala Shah Kaku, has been introduced with the cooperation of a Swedish company. It is fully computerised, having world level equipment for checking the road worthiness of vehicles.

It will be replicated all over the province, also running mobile vans for snap checking of the fitness certificate, and the actual condition of a transport vehicle.

By the end of next year, the government plans to set up 39 stations in the province. Lahore will have three centres.