Policy will go into effect at times when particulate matter far exceeds limit

Beijing will take a certain percentage of official vehicles off the road during times of extreme pollution to lower exhaust emissions and reduce air contamination, the city government said.

Government organizations and public institutions are being asked to reduce the number of official vehicles on the road by 30 percent when the daily intensity of PM 2.5 - particulate matter smaller than 2.5 micrometers in diameter - exceeds 500 micrograms per cubic meter, according to an emergency plan against heavy pollution that was released by the government on Friday.