Punjab Introduces New Ordinance for Scrapping End-of-Life Vehicles

The Punjab government has introduced a new ordinance aimed at reducing vehicle emissions and improving air quality by establishing a legal framework for the scrapping of end-of-life vehicles.

The Provincial Motor Vehicles (Third Amendment) Ordinance, 2026 was promulgated by Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan and came into effect immediately, as the Punjab Assembly was not in session.

The ordinance amends the Provincial Motor Vehicles Ordinance, 1965, by adding provisions related to the identification and disposal of end-of-life vehicles.

Which Vehicles Will Be Classified as End-of-Life?

Under the new law, a vehicle may be classified as an end-of-life vehicle if it meets one or more of the following conditions:

• Its registration has expired or has been canceled.
• It fails mandatory vehicle fitness or emission tests and cannot obtain the required certificates.
• It has been extensively damaged due to fire, road accidents, natural disasters, or other incidents, and the owner declares it as scrap.

The ordinance also allows vehicle owners to voluntarily submit eligible vehicles for scrapping.

Mandatory Vehicle Scrapping Process

According to the new legal framework, end-of-life vehicles must be scrapped through:

• An authorized private vehicle scrapping facility, or
• A scrapping center established by the Punjab Transport and Mass Transit Department.

The ordinance defines vehicle scrapping as the process of safely dismantling, depolluting, recycling, recovering reusable components, and processing non-reusable materials for recycling or disposal.

Government to Issue Detailed Rules

The Punjab government has been authorized to formulate detailed rules for implementing the new system.

Officials said future regulations are expected to cover areas such as:

• Vehicle age limits.
• Fitness and emission testing procedures.
• Registration and operation of authorized scrapping facilities.
• Responsibilities and compliance requirements for scrapping centers.

Focus on Air Quality and Sustainable Transport

According to the government, the ordinance is intended to strengthen air quality management by reducing emissions from older and unfit vehicles.

Officials also stated that the new framework is expected to support the transition toward cleaner transportation, including electric vehicles and environmentally friendly public transport, while encouraging the growth of the vehicle recycling industry in Punjab.

More implementation guidelines are expected to be announced as the new system is rolled out across the province.