Environmental Protection Agency to expand operational focus beyond central Lahore and deploy officers in the city
An aerial photo shows people moving on a street amid heavy smog conditions in Lahore. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
Authorities have been ordered to ensure that no smoke-emitting vehicles are seen on the roads of Lahore for the next two weeks.
The order is from the Lahore High Court, which prohibits these vehicles from entering the city through the highway or any other route.
Hearing petitions related to environmental pollution, Justice Shahid Karim observed that emissions from vehicles traveling between Lahore, Karachi and interior Sindh are significantly contributing to the deterioration of the air quality of Lahore.
The judge emphasized that the Grand Trunk Road should not be ignored in the enforcement campaign.
Read: Lahore breathes easy as smog eases
The court also ordered the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to expand its operational scope beyond central Lahore and deploy officers at entry and exit points of the city.
The EPA was further instructed to submit its task lists to the courts and provide strict monitoring on all roads.
If the previous judicial directives had been properly implemented, Justice Karim observed, the pollution situation would not have worsened to this extent.
The Water and Sanitation Agency submitted a report during the proceedings, stating that the first phase of its development works had been completed and funds for road restoration had already been transferred to the Lahore Development Authority (LDA).
Meanwhile, a court official pointed out that the air quality index even inside the courtroom had exceeded 190, prompting the installation of air purifiers in the court itself.
The proceedings were adjourned until Monday.
