LAHORE, September 21: Punjab has taken a step towards developing Pakistan’s first Low Emission Zone (LEZ) in Lahore, in collaboration with the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS), to reduce vehicle emissions and improve urban air quality.
A contract-signing ceremony for the design of the proposed LEZ was held on September 21, 2026, between the Environment Protection and Climate Change Department (EPCCD) and LUMS.
The ceremony was attended by EPCCD Secretary Silwat Saeed, Director General EPA Abdullah Nayyar Sheikh, and Director General CPTC Amina Munir. LUMS was represented by Provost and Acting Vice Chancellor Tariq Mahmood Jadoon and Dr Zubair Khalid, Director of the Centre for Urban Informatics, Technology and Policy (CITY).
During the ceremony, Dr Zubair Khalid presented the proposed methodology for designing the LEZ and explained how suitable areas in Lahore would be identified.
The process will use ground-based air quality data, satellite observations, machine learning, spatial analysis and traffic data. These sources will help develop detailed pollution maps and identify areas with high pollutant concentrations.
The proposed Low Emission Zone aims to reduce air pollution by managing the movement of highly polluting vehicles. Measures will be designed according to factors such as vehicle emission standards, vehicle type, fuel type and applicable charges.
The initiative is intended to support cleaner urban air by addressing vehicular emissions, a major concern for Lahore’s environment and public health. Its design phase will help identify suitable locations and develop measures for managing high-emission vehicles.
The project marks a step towards exploring targeted, data-driven approaches to air pollution control in Punjab’s provincial capital.
