The Punjab government has imposed a complete ban on the purchase of new petrol or diesel vehicles for provincial departments and government institutions. From now on, only electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles will be allowed for official procurement.

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According to officials, vehicles used for field duties such as emergency response, operational tasks, and fieldwork have been exempted from this restriction. The chief secretary said the government is giving top priority to green energy and environmental protection.

As part of this plan, a new electric vehicle policy will be introduced soon. Approval for new petrol pumps will now be granted only if EV charging units are installed. No new petrol pump will be allowed to operate without a charging facility.

Nearly 170 petrol pumps recently approved across 31 cities will also be required to install charging units. These include 29 in Faisalabad, 14 in Lahore, 10 in Bahawalpur, 9 each in Khanewal and Bahawalnagar, 8 each in Rawalpindi and Jhang, and 7 each in Toba Tek Singh, Mianwali, Kasur, and Chiniot.

The decision aims to reduce air pollution, especially Lahore’s smog, cut oil imports, and support the shift toward clean energy. The ban applies only to government vehicle purchases. Private citizens and businesses can still buy petrol or diesel vehicles for now.

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This step shows a strong policy shift toward clean transport. It may speed up EV adoption across Punjab. Charging stations will become more common. Public response could shape future rules for private vehicles.