The Punjab government has introduced a new law that requires end-of-life vehicles to be scrapped. This step aims to cut vehicle emissions and improve air quality across the province.
Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan promulgated the Provincial Motor Vehicles (Third Amendment) Ordinance 2026 with immediate effect because the Punjab Assembly was not in session. The ordinance amends the 1965 Motor Vehicles Ordinance by adding a new chapter that clearly defines end-of-life vehicles and makes their proper disposal compulsory.
Under the law, a vehicle becomes an end-of-life vehicle if its registration has expired or been cancelled, if it fails mandatory fitness or emission tests and cannot get the required certificates, or if it is severely damaged by fire, natural disasters, accidents, or other calamities and the owner declares it as scrap. Owners can also voluntarily send their vehicles for scrapping.
Scrapping means safe disposal, recycling, depollution, recovery of reusable parts, or crushing of parts that cannot be reused. Owners must take end-of-life vehicles to a private authorised facility or one set up by the Punjab Transport and Mass Transit Department. The provincial government can issue further rules to implement the system.
Officials say the framework will strengthen air quality management and support the shift toward electric vehicles and cleaner public transport. Detailed rules on vehicle age limits, testing procedures, and the duties of scrapping centres will be issued later. The policy is expected to affect both private and commercial vehicle owners while helping grow the vehicle recycling industry in Punjab.