For more than a decade, Lahore has strangled under a thick blanket of smog and air pollution. But successive governments seem more focused on polishing their green credentials than making a real difference.

If this trend continues, the newly created environmental protection force aims to carry an example in a city where most commercial and private vehicles are still running on gasoline, without proper emission monitoring.

Its solution? Patroling the streets and performed inspections in 25 shining hybrid cars – purchased at a staggering cost of Rs 250 million, funded under the World Bank’s green program.

To give the government benefit of the doubt, some might call it a step in the right direction. But this argument quickly falls apart when most commuters in the city can hardly afford an electric motorcycle, so much less an environmentally friendly car.

However, the new force will have access to 250 electrical motorcycles together with modern inspection equipment, including tablets and instruments for gas and water analysis – purchased for a further RS ​​300 million, funded by the province’s administration.

According to figures collected by Express Pakinomist, Lahore, Punjab’s capital, has 7.5 million registered vehicles, including cars, motorcycles, rickshaws and taxis. An overwhelming 99% race on gasoline, making them an important contributor to the city’s sustained unhealthy air quality. From April 2, Lahores Air Quality Index (AQI) varies from 100 to 166, which places it in the ‘unhealthy’ category for much of the day. During the first two days of the month, PM2.5 levels varied between 60-90 UG/m³-more than four times the 24-hour secure limit set by the World Health Organization.

So can the new environmental protection force with its fleet of hybrid cars make a difference? Environmental experts say no. Even those who know the vehicle mechanics see some advantage of adding 25 hybrid cars to the environmental protection force when the vast majority of vehicles on Laorrest’s roads still run on gasoline.

“If the government was serious with environmentally friendly transport, it should have gone for fully electric vehicles instead of hybrids that are still dependent on fossil fuels,” said Sunil Sarfaraz Munj, who runs Pakwheels, the country’s largest car website. “It’s like preaching to others while not practicing it themselves – hybrids still have an engine and demand fuel,” he added. “If the government was serious with its ‘go green’ slogan, it should have committed to allelectric transport.”

Casting Further doubt, Munj pointed out that if the goal was to cut emissions and set an example, the government could have saved money by choosing Beds Entry-Level Atto 3, a more affordable electric vehicle from the Chinese producer.

Taking into account the car expert’s advice, Express Pakinomist conducted a market survey. The latest participant in Pakistan’s electric vehicle market, BYD, has models that are priced between 9 million and 17 million rupees – yes beyond reach for most. Independent financial experts calculate the median monthly salary in Pakistan for RS 70,700, making EV ownership a distant dream for the average consumer. This salary also sets electric bikes – praised between Rs 140,000 and Rs 250,000 – out of reach.

How deep is Go Green Promise?

Environmental experts claim that the government is pushing its ‘go green’ slogan without focusing on concrete actions.

Firstly, they say, the environmental protection strength that patrols in hybrid cars will have a little inspiring value if the average citizen cannot afford the insurmountable expensive environmentally friendly alternatives. More critically, they point out that the provincial administration of Lahore to see any real improvement in air quality should take more, contemporary steps – which improves urban transport, offers better connection and provides incentives to the average commuter.

Right now, they notice that the system is coming far below to meet the needs of a city of 14.8 million people. Take Lahores Metro bus-a fleet of 60 buses covering only 27 kilometers from Gajju Matah to Shahdara. Experts claim that this is not near enough to convince commuters to give up their personal transport. Likewise, the orange line Metro train, which spans 27.1 kilometers with 26 stations, has a carefully planned expansion to cover more routes across the city – something politicians have not yet addressed. Without an effective public transport system, they warned that other measures will do little to reduce the number of vehicles on the roads – creating some meaningful reduction in emissions unlikely.

Inspirational value

When asked about the expensive purchase of hybrid vehicles for the newly created environmental protection force, Punjab’s environmental protection agency secretary defended Raja Jahangir Anwar, the decision. In a speech with Express Pakinomist, he said 250 electric motorcycles and 25 hybrid cars had been acquired to inspect pollution -causing industrial units, factories and brick ovens. “As the province moves towards zero emissions, it was important to ensure that the vehicles used by the department were also environmentally friendly,” he added.

Environmental experts argue that without a significant shift in public transport, industrial regulation and fuel quality, such measures will do little to control Lahore’s worsening air pollution. Despite the provincial government’s allegations of progress against Netto-Nul emissions and creation of a ‘Smog War Room’, Pakistan’s most populous province remains an important contributor to the country’s greenhouse gas emissions.

While specific figures for Punjab are not available, its industrial production, vehicle emissions and agricultural practices suggest that it accounts for a significant part of the national total amount. Nowhere is this more clear than in the provincial capital, which has come to grind under a thick blanket of poisonous smog every winter in the last 15 years – at times competing with New Delhi on the dubious title of the world’s most polluted city.

Pollution mixture

According to a report from the Urban Unit of Punjab Planning and Development Department, Transport is drawing 83% of Laorrest’s air pollution. Within this sector, motorcycles, scooters and auto-rickshaws are many of those who use two-stroke engines among the worst offenders. Aggravation of things is worse, low quality fuel is widely available, aggravates vehicle emissions and further aggravated air quality.

Industrial activity is another important contributor

Recent estimates suggest that the factory emissions account for about 25% of Laorrest’s total air pollution. Combined with the transport sector, these emissions burn the dangerous smog that often blankets the city.

Action plan for climate change

A review of Punjab’s climate change action plan, which was revealed last year, determines ambitious goals: Sales of electric vehicle (EV) must reach 15% by 2030 and 20% by 2035. But experts warn that although these goals are met, the overall influence on vehicle emissions is likely to be insignificant.

According to the 2024 plan, the provincial government aims at 60% of its energy to come from persistent sources and for EVs to take into account 30% of vehicles on the road at the end of the decade. Dawar Hameed Butt, an environmental specialist, remains deeply skeptical.

“While the goal of renewable energy can reach 40-45% by 2030, the electric vehicle target is wildly unrealistic and can hardly scrape 1%,” he said. The basic question claimed butt is the lack of infrastructure. Charging network remains inadequate, and with EV -Reconciliation at the moment minimal, he sees a little chance of rapid expansion in the coming years.

In addition to electric cars, Punjabs Transport -the lack of effective options is worsened. Sani E Zahra, an urban planner based in Lahore, makes comparisons with cities such as Bogotá and Beijing, which has successfully built integrated, sustainable public transport systems.

She urged politicians to see public transport as a long -term investment rather than a tool for political gains. “Sustainable, well-planned transport solutions are crucial-not only for urban, but to improve the quality of life,” Zahra said.