Transportation sector has a massive environmental footprint in Pakistan. It is also responsible for one quarter of the total national GHG emissions, thus intensifying the threat of climate change.
To make the sector environmentally sustainable, the Government of Pakistan has recently initiated a number of measures including the introduction of the better quality Euro-V fuel standard, and the formation of the draft Electric Vehicle Policy 2020 – 2025. While these policies are a step in the right direction, they will start yielding results in the medium to long run as the entire system and fleet of vehicles cannot be revamped over-night. Therefore, there is a need take steps which can bring a difference in the short run as well.
In this regard, Eco-driving principles based on a few changes in driving behavior and vehicular maintenance can play an integral role. To this end, unconventional actors such as drivers of public and private offices/schools, local vans, buses, rickshaws, taxis/cab-hailing services, etc. can prove be instrumental agents of change.
Against this backdrop, IoU conducted a capacity building workshop of drivers of cab-hailing services, taxis, local public transport, etc. through dissemination of IEC material and informational videos, radio programs and capacity building workshops. The training workshop was carried out in collaboration with Islamabad Traffic Police (ITP). Notable experts such as Ms. Zartaj Gul – Former Minister of State for Climate Change; Mr. Malik Amin Aslam – Former Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Climate Change; Ms. Farzana Shah – Director General Pak EPA; Mr. Rafay Alam – environmental lawyer; Ms. Shabina Faraz – environmental journalist; and Ms. Afia Salam – environmental journalist, shed light on environmental footprint of the sector and the role eco-driving can play in mitigating those risks. The major themes included:
As a result of the campaign, a Green Drivers’ Association (GDA) has been formed which takes the agenda forward by disseminating the message of Eco-driving.
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