Punjab Introduces New EV Policy, Makes Vehicle Registration Mandatory Before Delivery
The Punjab government has finalized the draft of its New Energy Vehicle (NEV) Policy, which includes a phased plan to remove vehicles older than 20 years from the roads. According to media reports, the policy will soon be presented to the provincial cabinet for approval. Rather than imposing an immediate ban, the government will gradually phase out older vehicles, beginning with the introduction of a digital vehicle verification system to determine a vehicle’s age based on its registration date.
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In the initial phase, the policy will be implemented in selected cities, including Lahore and Faisalabad, before being expanded across the province. The government aims to complete the rollout of the digital verification system throughout Punjab by 2027. Older commercial vehicles will also be removed in stages between 2031 and 2035, while incentives will be offered to encourage owners to replace them with environmentally friendly vehicles.
Punjab Plans Digital Vehicle Verification and Gradual Ban on Older Vehicles
Separately, the Punjab government has made pre-delivery vehicle registration mandatory for all new vehicles. Under the new policy, no newly purchased vehicle will be allowed to leave a showroom without official registration. Acting on the directions of Director General Excise Punjab Umar Sher Chattha, the policy has been implemented with immediate effect.
Automakers, authorized dealerships, and motor branch officials have been directed to complete vehicle registration before handing over a vehicle to the buyer. Customers with Punjab-issued computerized national identity cards (CNICs) will now receive their vehicles with official number plates, registration documents, and all legal paperwork, eliminating the need to visit Excise offices. Authorized dealerships will be granted registration authority through the Dealer Vehicle Registration System (DVRS) after obtaining licenses from the Excise Department.
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