Combating environmental threats on the go

Ahsan Malik
May 25, 2025

Like its young inspectors, Punjab government’s freshly launched Environment Protection Squad looks ambitious

Combating environmental threats on the go


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hen Tayyaba Abdul Sattar leaves home for work, she has no idea where her work will take her. As a newly recruited inspector in the Punjab government’s freshly launched Environment Protection Squad, Sattar’s job is to combat environmental threats on the go — literally.

Sattar is part of the first batch of the Environment Protection Force that has several squads: the e-Bike Squad, which works as an eco-friendly unit; the Green Squad, which works in urban areas where anti-plastic, dust and dengue control campaigns are under way; the Blue Squad, which offers protection to water bodies; the Black Squad, which tests vehicles for toxic fumes; the Red Squad, meant for prevention of harmful substances in industrial areas and hospitals; and the Hawk Eye Squad, which conducts environment-related surveillance while riding vehicles that have 360-degree live cameras fitted in and thermal drones that can ‘see’ in pitch darkness.

That’s not all of it. The Urban Patrolling and Vigilance Squad works to prevent environmental hazards; and the Brick Kiln Squad, driving a fleet of eight double-cabin vehicles, monitors brick kilns. The Anti-Plastic and Dust Squad, as the name suggests, seeks to eliminate plastic and dust pollution. Lastly, the Point Source Pollution Monitoring Squad is tasked with monitoring environmental pollutants.

Sattar says she was part of the squad engaged in the Emission Testing System. “The EPS was formally inaugurated on our passing-out last month, when Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s vehicle underwent emission testing and got an ETS sticker. Following that, the service was opened to public, and the operations began,” she tells The News on Sunday.

Since their passing-out on April 17, Sattar has participated in several ETS raids. “Initially, the ETS was launched as a static setup — we established booths at nine different locations. Each booth had an inspector, two field assistants and a lab technician responsible for operating the gas analyser used in vehicle emission testing. I also led a team in the beginning,” she adds.

Explaining how the ETS works, Sattar says, “We attach a sensor probe to the silencer of a vehicle to measure its emissions. The standard is set at 6 percent for carbon monoxide. If a vehicle’s emission level is below 6 percent, it qualifies for an EC sticker. If it exceeds the limit, the vehicle is not certified until necessary maintenance, such as tuning and filters changes are carried out.”

Currently, this service is being provided free of cost. Charges and penalties are expected to be introduced soon. The stickers are valid until end of 2025, after which the certification must be renewed.

Having worked at the booths, Sattar has now moved on to the Mobile Squad. The idea is that “assignments should keep changing, in order for inspectors to learn to rise to all kinds of challenges.”

She says, “My team [three field assistants and a lab technician] visit government departments, cooperative offices and other locations upon request. We test emissions of both government and private vehicles, providing on-site certification.”

Sattar says that riding an electric bike is sheer joy. She learnt to drive on the job. “These bikes are easy to handle,” she adds.

When asked about the challenges she has faced in the field, Sattar has a ready answer: “Public cooperation, or lack of it.” Thankfully, the situation has improved recently. This is evident from the long queues of people waiting to get their vehicles tested and certified.

“The media has played an important role in raising awareness,” she adds.

Inspector Waqar Manzoor, a member of the Green Motorcycle Force, formed to support the ETS, says that while public awareness of the initiative has increased, resistance, pressure and occasional offers of bribes pose challenges of sorts.

Recalling his first field inspection, which took place on April 5, Manzoor says, “I was accompanied by a field assistant. We were responding to a complaint. The reaction from the public varied. Some people cooperated; others didn’t.

“On several occasions, lawyers in particular tried to stop us. We were asked as to what authority we had. We were also warned of legal notices.”

Combating environmental threats on the go


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alking about the performance of the Green Force, Ali Ijaz, the EP deputy director in charge of field operations, says that between March 1 and May 15 this year, 350 inspections were carried out. As a result, 48 units were sealed for non-compliance with environmental standards and 72 notices were issued to violators. Fines amounting to Rs 2.5 million were also imposed.

According to Ijaz, the need for the force was felt as Lahore continues to get hit by smog, to which vehicular emissions are a major contributor.


Ahsan Malik is a media veteran interested in politics, consumer rights and entrepreneurship

Combating environmental threats on the go