ISLAMABAD – Federal Ombudsman Ejaz Ahmad Qureshi has taken swift action to resolve the issue of long queues at Islamabad’s D-Chowk, where citizens were facing severe inconvenience during vehicle environmental clearance checks.
Acting on multiple public complaints, the Ombudsman directed the district administration to launch structured awareness campaigns and ensure better coordination with the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in future to avoid such mismanagement.
According to details, district administration and EPA officials were summoned after reports emerged that citizens including senior citizens and women were forced to wait in long lines due to clearance checks carried out without prior notice. Vehicles were being stopped for environmental clearance stickers at a single checkpoint, causing major disruptions.
The inquiry revealed that authorities had also failed to clarify which vehicle models required clearance, leading to widespread confusion. Following the Ombudsman’s intervention, it was announced that only vehicles manufactured up to 2015 would require environmental clearance.
The decision underscores the Ombudsman’s role in ensuring accountability, better governance, and public convenience in service delivery.
