The government has decided to do something important about vehicular emissions that have reached highly dangerous levels. Federal Ministry of Environment told the National Assembly on Monday that all petrol-run vehicles would be required to comply with Euro-II emission standards with effect from July. The deadline for diesel vehicles' compliance with the new standard is January 2012, by which time the petroleum ministry is to ensure the availability of low sulphur diesel. There is no mention though of ridding petrol of the impurities that enhance its polluting potential. The decision to implement cleaner air standards cannot be welcomed enough. An idea of how bad is the quality of air city dwellers breathe everyday, can be had from a recent report the Environmental Protection Agency put out for Lahore. According to it, the poisonous emissions, which include carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur and ozone are at least three times higher than the WHO set standards. The level of respirable dust is 531.76 percent above the internationally acceptable standards. These pollutants are known to cause respiratory illnesses, vision impairment as well as heart disease and cancer. A high lead content and carbon monoxide are linked to learning disability among children. It needs to be said that in part the problem owes its existence to governmental negligence vis-a-vis an efficient public transportation system. The car having become a necessity where it was a luxury not too long ago, the recent years have seen a significant increase in privately owned cars. Consequently, messy traffic congestion is common, and pollution a serious threat to public health. According to Punjab Excise and Taxation Department statistics, some 900,000 new vehicles were registered in the province over a five-year period ending in 2007. Much of the activity can be brought down if only the government pays due attention to the growing demand for mass public transit system. But first things first. Before July, the government must put in place effective measures to ensure public compliance with Euro emission standards. First of all, the petroleum ministry must see to it that all petrol stations sell only lead-free petrol. Secondly, Vehicular Emissions Testing System, to be introduced in the big cities, should apply not only to cars but also to rickshaws and motorcycles as well. Thirdly, considering that July deadline is not far off, the government must immediately initiate an awareness campaign to allow vehicle owners to prepare to conform to new standards, also educating them about the hazards of uncontrolled emissions. Since our people are not used to the testing system, resistance can be expected on one pretext or another. The government must not brook any hindrance to its decision to clean the air of poisonous fumes for it involves serious public health issues.