The Punjab government has decided to ban government departments from purchasing petrol and diesel vehicles, aiming to promote environmentally friendly transport across the province.
Under the decision, departments will be allowed to purchase only electric or hybrid vehicles, while those used for field duties remain exempt.
The provincial government is also expected to announce a new Electric Vehicle policy soon to encourage green energy and sustainable transport across the province.
Meanwhile, the issuance of No Objection Certificates for new petrol pumps has been linked to mandatory electric vehicle charging facilities under the policy.
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Chief Secretary Punjab Zahid Akhtar Zaman said no new petrol pump will be allowed to operate without installing proper EV charging units.
Through the e-Biz portal, NOCs have been issued for 170 new petrol pumps across 31 cities, all required to install charging units.
These include pumps in Faisalabad, Lahore, Bahawalpur, Khanewal, Bahawalnagar, Rawalpindi, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Mianwali, Kasur, and Chiniot, districts where charging units are mandatory.
The Punjab government reiterated that promoting green energy and environmentally sustainable transport remains a top priority for provincial development and policy direction.
