The Lahore High Court has directed the immediate installation of water meters in commercial markets and ordered that the cost be recovered from consumers.
On Friday, Justice Shahid Karim of the Lahore High Court presided over a hearing on petitions regarding the lack of effective measures to control smog.
The court emphasized that preventing water wastage is a necessity and suggested that the government declare a water emergency.
During the proceedings, the Punjab government’s counsel informed the court that a committee led by the Chief Secretary of Punjab had been formed to address these concerns. However, the court expressed dissatisfaction, pointing out that people wash their cars outside their homes, calling for a crackdown and the imposition of fines on such practices.
The court also requested a report on the drought situation in the province.
Additionally, it instructed authorities to immediately install water meters in commercial markets and recover the cost from consumers. WASA’s counsel, Mian Irfan Akram, informed the court that a summary for the purchase of 200,000 water meters had been sent to the government.
The court further demanded a report on amendments to rules concerning Qingqi and loader rickshaws.
Regarding school buses, the court noted that a government ordinance had been issued but was no longer in effect. Expressing concern, the judge questioned, “Are school owners so powerful that even the government is helpless?” The Punjab government’s counsel responded that meetings with all stakeholders were underway to formulate new rules.
The court also suggested that students should be made environmental volunteers.
The next hearing on these petitions is scheduled for April 4.