LHC orders Punjab government to act on smoke-emitting automobiles.

Lahore – (Special Correspondent / Web Desk) – Lahore High Court (LHC) ordered the Punjab government on Friday to conduct a strict campaign against smoke-emitting vehicles in the province in an effort to reduce smog and air pollution.
“Whenever you go out, you see dozens of smoke-emitting vehicles on the roads,” Justice Shahid Karim said while hearing a set of petitions against smog and environmental pollution.
Justice Karim directed authorities to run the campaign for at least two to three weeks and urged stringent enforcement. He also saw that trucks moving from Lahore to Karachi were producing pollution.

Officials from the Environment Protection Agency (EPA), the Parks and Horticultural Authority (PHA) and other departments also appeared before the court at today’s hearing.

However, the judge expressed his displeasure over the absence of a director-level officer from the EPA, as instructed at the previous hearing.

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Taking exception to pollution caused by vehicles, Justice Karim directed the EPA to display banners across Lahore which warned commuters that smoke-emitting vehicles would be impounded.

The EPA official informed the court that such banners had indeed been placed around the city. At this, the judge ordered the agency to depute its officers alongside police personnel at inter-city bus terminals.

He also enquired if vehicles travelling through the motorway toll plazas were being inspected and ordered officials to ensure strict checking of vehicles plying GT Road from Lahore to Multan.

If the court’s previous orders had been implemented in letter and spirit, Lahore’s condition would have been different, he regretted, directing authorities to “take action against anyone responsible for spreading pollution.”

The judge also instructed the Punjab government’s law officer to arrange a joint meeting of the environment department, the chief traffic officer and the transport department.

Earlier, the EPA officer informed the court that at least 60 tons of old tyres had been seized from plants in South Punjab and other cities.

Over the last two weeks, Lahore has been among the cities with the most filthy air.  According to worldwide monitoring company IQAir, it is now ranked fifth worst in the world for bad air quality.  The city had an air quality index (AQI) reading of 177, which the monitor deemed unhealthy.

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On Monday, the LHC expressed dissatisfaction with the local administration’s lack of action to combat smog and pollution, criticizing the usage of anti-smog guns and tree chopping in the city.  Justice Karim underlined that the proceedings were not against anyone, but rather to guide and help the administration.