ISLAMABAD: Motorists in Lahore are facing intense frustration and long waits as they struggle to get their vehicles tested at free Emission Testing System (ETS) centres, a service offered by the Environment Protection and Climate Change Department.
Despite the availability of 20 ETS centres across the city, each reportedly equipped with three squads, most citizens return home without getting their vehicles tested.
The wait times are often several hours long, forcing many to leave without service, especially in the scorching summer heat.
A motorist standing near the ETS booth at Johar Town’s Emporium Mall expressed his anger after multiple failed attempts over three days.
He noted that each test takes around five to six minutes, meaning only 140–150 vehicles can be tested in a full working day.
However, 200 to 300 vehicles visit each centre daily, creating massive backlogs.
Staff Shortages and Equipment Limit Capacity
Field observations suggest that despite the official claim of three squads per centre, many booths are operating with only one team.
At the busy Johar Town centre, a field assistant named Hammad confirmed only one team was active, making it impossible to handle the large inflow of vehicles.
He explained that each ETS machine takes about two minutes to reset after a test, contributing to the five-minute average testing time per vehicle.
This slows down operations significantly and increases frustration among citizens waiting in line.
Secretary of the department Raja Jahangir Anwar acknowledged the demand surge but attributed the overcrowding to public reluctance to use paid testing services.
He claimed that since the ETS service is free, citizens are flooding the centres, while ignoring Rs500 paid testing options available at transport department centres.
He emphasized that his teams are working non-stop without breaks to accommodate as many vehicles as possible.
ETS Service Expansion and New Fee-Based Model from July
The government plans to extend ETS services to other districts, with Lahore serving as the pilot city.
So far, around 100,000 vehicles have been tested, and the department intends to increase ETS machines from the current 70 to over 100.
However, the free testing scheme is set to end on June 30.
From July 1, ETS-related services will be outsourced to authorized vehicle dealerships across Lahore.
Each dealership will install ETS machines and offer paid testing at Rs400 per vehicle.
The move aims to reduce pressure on free centres and ensure wider vehicle coverage.
Secretary Anwar also warned of a strict crackdown on heavy transport vehicles entering Lahore without valid fitness certificates.
He said nearly 15,000 heavy vehicles enter Lahore daily through 28 entry points, contributing significantly to the city’s air pollution.
After July 1, ETS teams will be deployed at eight major entry points to impound unfit vehicles.
He added that starting next year, the government will launch a large-scale campaign to enforce vehicle fitness regulations across the province.
