Lahore: The Lahore High Court has issued orders to seal smoke-emitting factories and, in cases of repeated offenses, to demolish such units, according to news published on November 4.
Read: Section 7E will not be applicable within LHC’s jurisdiction: FBR This decision was taken besides the impoundment of vehicles contributing to pollution as part of an effort to combat smog in Punjab. The news source mentioned that the decision came during a hearing of public interest petitions filed by Haroon Farooq and others. Justice Shahid Karim emphasized that factories emitting smoke should be sealed until they provide affidavits to the local government detailing their plans to address the issue. If violations persist, these factories should be demolished. During the court proceedings, Lahore Commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhawa and other officials were present. The court urged the Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) to take action to address the issue. The judge also stressed the need to document vehicles contributing to smog, enabling effective measures for the coming year. He emphasized the significance of the next two months in addressing the smog problem. Commissioner Randhawa assured the court that the government would take stringent action against vehicles emitting smoke. The traffic police have been directed to impound vehicles that contribute to air pollution. Efforts to promote bicycle usage are also underway, with plans to establish separate cycling tracks on roads.
Read: FM Akhtar briefed on FBR’s reform plan, improved economic documentation Justice Karim further instructed the commissioner to engage with the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) to run smog awareness campaigns on electronic media. Additionally, the government is working on acquiring more machines to dispose of crop stubble.
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