Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz-led Punjab government on Friday made it mandatory for motorcycles to obtain fitness certificates — a requirement previously enforced only for private vehicles.The development comes as part of amendments made to the Motor Vehicle Ordinance 1965, confirmed Secretary Punjab Provincial Transport Authority (PPTA) Muhammad Hassan Ahsan in an exclusive conversation with a channel.

According to Mr Ahsan, the revised ordinance aims to bring motorcycles under the regulatory ambit for emission and mechanical standards. “Just like private cars, motorcycles will now also have to undergo regular fitness checks,” he said, adding that this measure is a vital step in addressing the deteriorating air quality in urban centres. He further said that the government has initiated a series of reforms across the transport sector to enhance transparency and service delivery.

These include the abolition of handwritten slip challans and the digitisation of the route permit issuance process. Citizens will soon be able to obtain route permits with a single click, which he believes will significantly reduce opportunities for bribery and departmental inefficiency.“Polluting motorcycles will be checked soon, and strict enforcement will follow,” Mr Ahsan added.

He noted that mapping of transport routes and systems has been completed in all districts, paving the way for streamlined regulatory oversight. The secretary also addressed the long-standing issue of overloading, which he described as a major concern affecting both road safety and environmental degradation.“Our next steps will include stricter checks on overloaded vehicles and ensuring compliance through a digital monitoring system,” he stated.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)