Last year in July, The Environmental Protection Department, Punjab launched a much needed campaign against increasing air and noise pollution.

On Saturday, Jan 24th, 2009 A SQUAD of the City District Government Lahore (CDGL) fined 61 vehicles, while 12 others were impounded during the ongoing campaign against smoke-emitting vehicles. The CDGL squad, led by Tariq Zaman , DO (Environment) Lahore, fined Rs 13,700 to 61 motorcycle-rickshaws and two pick-up trucks.

Another commendable step taken by the EPD is their new project aimed at motivating youth to protect environment and to educate them about an environment friendly future. It’s high-time someone paid attention to the well known health hazards of engine emissions.

Now we need to focus on getting the high polluting vehicles – regardless petrol or diesel – off the road and out of our neighborhood.

It is about time we knew what’s coming out of the exhausts of our vehicles, understand critical air pollutants around us and at least acknowledge the steps that are taken to minimize this.

Get to know your car, what’s going on in the engine, whether it’s releasing blue, white, gray or black smoke from the exhaust pipe.

We need to join hands and work together  for cleaner air and our cars ought to reflect that, what do you think?