The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday resumed hearings on multiple petitions filed regarding smog remediation in the provincial capital, directing authorities to strictly enforce the 10pm market closure rule to help reduce pollution levels.
The proceedings were presided over by Justice Shahid Karim, who is hearing petitions filed by Haroon Farooq and others. The Lahore deputy commissioner appeared in court following a summons issued by the judge.
During the hearing, the court expressed concern over the ongoing violations of the market closure order, emphasizing that the existing notification from 2023 must be implemented without delay.
“What does your notification say?” the judge asked. The deputy commissioner responded that the notification mandates markets to close at 10pm and restaurants at 11pm.
Justice Karim noted that compliance was lacking and suggested stricter measures, including the closure of all commercial activities on Sundays for at least a month to help control smog. “This is my suggestion — we’ll have to do this for a month or four weeks,” the judge remarked.
Monitoring of wedding halls and catering activities
The court further directed authorities to keep wedding halls under surveillance, ordering that all such venues must also shut by 10pm.
“There are also violations related to one-dish catering during weddings, but that is not related to the environment,” Justice Karim observed, while noting that stricter enforcement of time restrictions could reduce emissions.
'No traffic blockages, not even for five minutes'
Emphasizing the need to maintain smooth traffic flow, the court said there should be no traffic blockages in the city, even for five minutes. Justice Karim permitted the DC to leave after recording his statement but stressed that monitoring and enforcement must continue.
The judge directed that the Environment Department’s motorbike squads remain on patrol and ensure regular inspection of three-wheelers and rickshaws to control vehicular emissions.
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“This work should have started three months ago,” the court observed, adding, “Now it’s being ignored and is of no use.”
Justice Karim also criticized the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) and the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) over unfinished projects and roadside debris, which he said were worsening smog and causing accidents.
“The construction work of WASA has been going on in some places for six months,” the court remarked. “WASA projects start but never seem to end. Large pipes have been lying on roads for months — this is why accidents happen. What is the procedure?”
The judge ordered the responsible officers of WASA and LDA to appear in court on Wednesday and provide a complete update on their projects. “So much soil has been deposited across Lahore that there’s no limit. What will the smog guns do in so much dust?” Justice Karim questioned.
Court seeks WASA report by Friday
The court directed WASA to present detailed project timelines and progress reports, including completion deadlines, in the next hearing.
Counsel for WASA requested time until Friday to submit the report, to which Justice Karim responded, “I want to know when these projects were supposed to be completed as per the contract.”
Before adjourning proceedings till Friday, the court reiterated that every department must fulfill its responsibilities, adding, “This is not my job alone. Why shouldn’t the Environment Department, WASA, and LDA be fined?”
