As smog chokes Lahore, LHC orders action on buses

WEB DESK: The Lahore High Court (LHC), during a hearing on smog-related measures, issued a series of directives, expressing both concern over environmental damage and appreciation for government action. The session focused on tree preservation, vehicle emissions, and water conservation.

A significant portion of the hearing revolved around the Nasir Bagh project, where the court questioned how trees were being cut despite repeated orders. Challenging the claims of the Punjab Highway Authority (PHA) lawyer that no trees were felled and 121 out of 123 had been successfully transplanted, the judge remarked, “The pictures I have received show trees have been cut.” The court ordered a member of the Judicial Commission to immediately visit the site and submit a report, stressing the garden’s “great historical importance.”

While acknowledging that the government is now implementing court orders from the last seven years—an action the court called “commendable”, the justices emphasized that anti-smog efforts must be a year-round activity. “If action starts as soon as the year begins, perhaps the smog problem will be solved,” the court observed.

The court also turned its attention to pollution from vehicles, specifically ordering the inspection of the University of Punjab and the impounding of all smoke-emitting buses. For schools, the court advised a phased approach to converting bus fleets instead of forcing them to purchase 50 buses at once.

In a positive development, the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) reported procuring 1,300 imported water meters, with 260 already installed in Johar Town. The court praised this as a “good step towards a larger goal,” stating that universal metering will encourage water conservation.