Smoke-emitting vehicles in Lahore: 1,763 fined Rs 5.5 million in October, 739 impounded

Smoke-emitting vehicles fined in Lahore: 1,763 vehicles have been fined a total of Rs 5.5 million so far in October, and 739 have been impounded, as the city's anti-smog drive moves into November. The figures were presented at a meeting chaired by Lahore Commissioner Nauman Yousuf, Dawn reported on Saturday.

That works out to an average of about Rs 3,120 per vehicle fined, and roughly two in every five vehicles caught were taken off the road rather than let go with a ticket.

October's anti-smog numbers for Lahore

Overloaded vehicles were also stopped and offloaded, though the meeting gave no count. The sealing of 146 restaurants stands out: smoke from charcoal grills and tandoors is one of the sources the Punjab government targets every smog season, alongside brick kilns, factories and stubble burning.

Why it matters now

Smog builds over Lahore and central Punjab as the weather cools, when still air keeps vehicle exhaust, factory smoke and smoke from burning rice stubble close to the ground. Vehicles that visibly blow smoke are the easiest polluters to catch, which is why they lead the enforcement figures.

If you drive in Lahore

• Get the exhaust checked. A car, bike or rickshaw that blows visible smoke can be fined on the spot and impounded, which means a trip to the pound and a release fee on top of the fine.
• Check your challans. Fines issued against your number plate can be checked online; our guide to e-challan checks in Punjab, Sindh and Islamabad shows how.
• Mind your fuel bill. A badly tuned engine burns more fuel as well as more smoke. The fuel average calculator shows whether your car's mileage has dropped.

On days when the air is at its worst, keep children and older relatives indoors in the early morning and evening, and wear a well-fitting N95 mask outside.