Uzbekistan will launch a nationwide Car-Free Day tomorrow, May 26, enforcing a strict ban on the use of official government vehicles across all provinces of the country.
The initiative is part of a newly enacted presidential decree, "On Measures to Implement the 'Clean Air' Nationwide Project Aimed at Improving Ambient Air Quality," which went into effect earlier this month on May 1. Under the new mandate, the state will observe dedicated Car-Free Day and Car-Free Week campaigns on the 10th and 25th of every month moving forward.
The regulation targets the public sector, strictly prohibiting employees of government organizations and state agencies from using fleet vehicles on designated campaign days. To ensure the policy does not financially penalize support staff, official drivers will retain their standard wages when these dates fall on regular business days.
Enforcement of the new rule will be severe. According to a protocol released by the Special Commission overseeing the campaign, any civil servant caught using an official vehicle during these dates will be cited for a direct breach of professional ethics. The directive explicitly gives agency heads the authority to subject violating personnel to swift disciplinary action.
While the primary mandate targets government operations, the Ministry of Ecology is strongly urging the public to join the effort. Officials are calling on the public to embrace alternative transit methods tomorrow to help curb urban emissions and foster a healthier ecological environment nationwide.
