Pakistan adopts fuel emission standards

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ISLAMABAD — All new petrol-driven vehicles, both imported and locally manufactured, will have to comply with ‘Euro-II’ emission standards that went into effect last July and will apply to diesel engines in July 2012, said Pakistan’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Director General Asif Shuja Khan on August 24. Many other countries have already adopted European emission standards, and many developing nations are also moving towards that objective.

Euro norms (EN) refer to emission levels from both petrol- and diesel-fueled vehicles legally permitted in Europe. These norms require manufacturers to make technical changes to their vehicles to reduce emission levels and will also require changes in refining petroleum and diesel fuels.

“The decision to introduce Euro-II standards was made in order to control air pollution caused by vehicles,” said Asif. “Pakistan [will] implement these standards to introduce more environmentally friendly vehicles on Pakistani roads.”

“To comply with Euro-II standards, refineries will also need to be upgraded, which requires a significant investment,” Asif said. Although the refineries are already working to produce Euro II-compliant petrol and diesel, Asif estimates the long-term production costs to be US$700 million. According to the EPA, the government is working with all segments concerned to adopt Euro II standards. The Petroleum and Environment Ministries and auto manufacturers will play pivotal roles in meeting the projected deadlines.

In another bid to reduce air pollution, the government promoted the use of natural gas (CNG) vehicles. More than two million vehicles in the country have already been converted to the fuel.