Punjab government declares smog emergency.
The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday ordered the Punjab government to declare a smog-related emergency and convene a meeting to take precautionary measures before extreme cold sets in.
Dense smog again engulfed Lahore in early October and air quality has reached alarming levels.
The increase in air pollution in the city has been declared as “dangerous” for human health.
Judge Shahid Jamil heard the petition from Farooq, a resident of Lahore.
The petitioner claimed that the government is not taking any action to fight smog and that health problems are increasing.
The court should order the competent authorities to take measures to control and eliminate the smog, he said.
Cars and industries that contribute to smog should be banned, he noted.
The court noted that smog eradication measures should be finalized and a team immediately assembled to take action against those responsible.
As Punjab government declares smog emergency, the court further stated that the vehicles must be provided to the teams.
Otherwise, the vehicles of the main secretariat will be handed over to them.
The court ordered the authorities to declare a smog emergency in the province and ordered them to purchase air quality sensors within two weeks.
Subsequently, the court ordered the authorities to submit an implementation report in the subsequent proceeding and postponed the hearing to 14 October.
