The Lahore High Court Justice Shahid Karim directed the government to close schools and colleges on Saturday in Punjab due to the inability of provincial authorities to reduce pollution effectively.
Today, the Lahore High Court discussed the severe air pollution crisis in Punjab and reviewed the government’s efforts to mitigate the dangerous levels of pollution. The court subsequently issued directives regarding the matter. A work-from-home policy for two days a week was also mandated by the judge, who chastised the Lahore commissioner, stating, “In terms of smog control, Commissioner Lahore has absolutely failed. His words are lofty, yet there is no action taken. Everything is turned down with just a notification.”
Justice Karim has called for the prompt removal of deputy commissioners in Sheikhupura, Jhang, Hafizabad, Khanewal, Nankana, and Bahawalnagar, emphasizing the urgency due to the critical situation in these districts. He ordered the Punjab chief secretary to transfer the mentioned personnel immediately. The judgment further mandated the departure of the director of the general environment. “Videos of crop residual burning being shared are very disappointing,” he stated. The judge observed that a notification had led to the closure of all activities, with officers on leave following the government’s announcement. Emphasizing that a five-minute traffic stop would result in citywide disruptions, the judge asserted, “The main contributor to smog is vehicle exhaust.”
According to the Lahore Development Authority’s (LDA) attorney, the provincial government built an underpass in just 70 days. “The work will lead to us experiencing smog in the winter. While you may have conquered the underpass, it’s essential not to overlook other matters,” he remarked. Judge Karim instructed the commission member to confer with the chief secretary of Punjab and inform him about the court’s directives. The court postponed the hearing until Wednesday.
The Punjab government declared last week, on November 8, that all markets, shopping centers, restaurants, movie theaters, gymnasiums, schools, and public and private offices would be closed on Friday, November 10, in Lahore, Gujranwala, and other districts due to persistent smog in the province. After heavy rain cleared pollution and improved air quality, Punjab lifted the lockdown.
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