LAHORE: The Environment Protection and Climate Change Department(EP&CCD)willlaunch a vehicular emission scanning system (VESS) at nine entry and exit points of Lahore to detect vehicles emitting excessive pollutants.
Under the pilot project, remote sensing devices (RSDs) will be installed at selected traffic corridors to measure exhaust emissions from moving vehicles without stopping traffic. The system will also capture vehicle registration numbers and other relevant data to link emission readings with individual vehicles.
The technology will enable authorities to identify high-emittingvehiclesforfurtherinspection or regulatory action instead of relying solely on visual smoke checksand conventional roadside testing.
EP&CCD Secretary Silwat Saeed said the system would enable the department to screen a large number of vehicles under real-world driving conditions. She said vehicle-specific emission data would help the department move towards evidence-based regulation and enable authorities to identify vehicles requiring detailed testing or enforcement.
The VESS initiative is being developed under the Lahore Air Improvement Framework (LAIF).
The first technical committee meeting for the VESS component was held on Aug 24, 2026, at the EP&CCD Committee Room in Lahore.
The committee reviewed technical specifications for the equip-ment, including pollutant parameters, measurement accuracy, detection limits, vehicle speed range, data resolution, camera integration and original equipment manufacturer qualifications.
The system will also be supported by the portable emission measurement systems (PEMS), which will be used for detailed emission measurements of selected vehicles during actualdriving conditions and to verify RSD readings.
A dedicated vehicular emission testing unit (VETU) will also be established under the Punjab Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to provide technical oversight, quality assurance and operational support for the system.Staff Reporter