Uzbekistan's Ministry of Natural Resources has proposed implementing a "Car Free Day" every Friday to promote Clean Air Month, media reports. This initiative aims to reduce the negative impact of vehicles on the environment and encourage citizens to lead healthier lifestyles by using bicycles for transportation. 

Currently, there are approximately 4mn vehicles in Uzbekistan, with 100,000 of them being faulty and emitting an average of 1.3mn tons of harmful substances yearly. This accounts for 63% of total emissions, reaching an alarming 88% in Tashkent. Moreover, the number of vehicles on the road continues to climb, with emissions rising by 26,000 tons in 2022 compared to the previous year. 

Several factors contribute to this increase, such as poor fuel quality, insufficient use of public transport, private vehicle use, and motorists' negligence regarding their car's technical parameters. To address this issue, the Ministry of Natural Resources plans to conduct environmental monitoring of harmful substances emitted by vehicles. Special equipment will monitor emissions at all road patrol service posts along the central streets. This will decrease harmful emissions and improve air quality, benefiting the environment and public well-being.