Mitigating Air Pollution in Punjab’s Transport Sector: Constraints and Opportunities

Pakistan ranks among the world’s most polluted countries, with transport emissions being a major contributor to deteriorating air quality. In Punjab, rising smog poses serious environmental and public health risks, with Lahore’s transport sector contributing nearly 83 percent of total emissions, followed by Multan. The government of Pakistan introduced the Clean Air Policy (2023) to tackle this, outlining cross-sectoral interventions for various stakeholders. This study explores barriers and opportunities for mitigating transport related air pollution through 25 unstructured interviews. Findings reveal key barriers, which include weak interdepartmental coordination in phasing out old vehicles, high import and electricity tariffs that limit electric vehicle (EV) adoption, inadequate EV charging infrastructure, and poor fuel quality. Opportunities include subsidized EVs, improved public transport with feeder networks, and enhanced local capacity to provide Euro V fuel. Policymakers must understand these factors to design targeted interventions, improve air quality, and protect public health.