LHC Orders Comprehensive Reports on Smog Control by November 12
Justice Shahid Karim Warns: “Smog Won’t Improve Without Effective Vehicle Inspections”
LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday directed all relevant provincial departments to submit detailed implementation reports on anti-smog measures by November 12, as the city continues to grapple with severe air pollution.
The directive came from Justice Shahid Karim while hearing multiple petitions concerning environmental degradation and the government’s failure to curb worsening smog conditions in Lahore and surrounding areas.
Traffic and Industrial Emissions Under Scrutiny
During the hearing, representatives from several departments, including the Environmental Protection Agency, Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA), and Motorway Police, appeared before the court.
A member of the Judicial Water and Environmental Commission presented findings showing that heavy traffic flow significantly increases after 11pm, further aggravating the city’s smog levels.
The DIG Motorway Police informed the court that the force had previously assisted in pilot projects aimed at reducing vehicular emissions and expressed readiness to support ongoing initiatives.
Source: Dawn News
Court Highlights Need for Strict Vehicle Inspections
While appreciating the cooperation of various departments, Justice Karim remarked that the city’s air quality would not improve unless rigorous vehicle inspections were implemented.
“Smog conditions will not improve until effective vehicle inspections are ensured,” he stated, underscoring that poorly maintained vehicles remain one of the leading contributors to pollution.
The judge emphasised that long-term results required a combination of traffic management, emission control, and enforcement of environmental regulations.
Court Questions Commercial Use of Public Parks
The bench also took up the issue of encroachments and commercial activities within Lahore’s public parks. Justice Karim sought a detailed response from the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) regarding restaurants and barbecue setups operating inside green spaces.
PHA’s counsel assured that an inspection would be carried out and findings submitted at the next hearing. However, the court warned that turning parks into commercial hubs at the expense of greenery would not be tolerated.
“If the aim is just to make money, then we might as well cut down all of Lahore’s trees, this approach is unacceptable,” Justice Karim remarked sharply.
“Concrete Measures, Not Cosmetic Steps”
Justice Karim reiterated that combating smog required concrete and sustained action, not temporary or symbolic measures. He called for strict regulation of nighttime heavy traffic, comprehensive vehicle inspections, preservation of green zones, and accountability for negligence.
The court’s directions signal growing judicial frustration with sluggish administrative responses to Lahore’s worsening smog crisis, which has made the city one of the world’s most polluted urban centres during winter months.
All departments concerned have been ordered to submit progress and compliance reports by November 12, with the next hearing expected to review the effectiveness of ongoing anti-smog operations.
