EPA prohibits sale of substandard fuels

LAHORE:Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has prohibited sale of substandard fuel for motor vehicles across the province.

In this regard, DG EPA issued an order, which stated that Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Punjab was striving hard to provide for the protection, conservation, rehabilitation and improvement of the environment, prevention and control of pollution, promotion of sustainable development.

The order said source apportionment studies have reported that vehicular emissions are major contributor in smog formation and air pollution. The vehicular emissions due to sub-standard fuels (petrol / diesel) further deteriorate the air quality especially during the smog season. Poor Air Quality has been linked to increased incidence of respiratory illnesses, environmental degradation, and violations of air quality standards.

DG EPA said as per Section 2(xxxiii) of The Punjab Environmental Protection Act 1997, pollution means the contamination of air, land or water by the discharge or emission of effluents or wastes or air pollutants or noise or other matter which either directly or indirectly or in combination with other discharges or substances alters unfavorably the chemical, physical, biological, radiation, thermal or radiological or aesthetic properties of the air, land or water or which may, or is likely to make the air, land or water unclean, noxious or impure or injurious, disagreeable or detrimental to the health, safety, welfare or property of persons or harmful to biodiversity.

Environmental Protection Agency vide order No. 259/PA/DG/EPA/2025 dated 29.05.2025 has declared that any specification of automobile fuel (Gasoline and High-Speed Diesel) other than approved by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) shall be deemed as sub-standard fuel. DG EPA said U/S 15(2) of the Punjab Environmental Protection Act, 1997, the Environmental Protection Agency is empowered to issue directions to any motor vehicle or class of vehicles to use such fuels as may be prescribed to ensure compliance with the standards.