During a hearing on petitions concerning environmental pollution and smog control, the Lahore High Court directed the Environmental Protection Department to prioritize the issuance of fitness stickers for heavy transport vehicles, large vehicles, rickshaws, and motorcycles.
Justice Shahid Karim presided over the hearing, which included petitions filed by citizen Haroon Farooq and others. Representatives from multiple departments, including the Environment Department, appeared before the court.
The court ordered that a comprehensive survey be conducted to assess the performance of water treatment plants installed in industrial units to ensure effective monitoring of pollution control measures.
During the proceedings, a member of the Judicial Water Commission informed the court that, despite court orders, the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) had not relocated birds from Tollinton Market. The court expressed strong displeasure over this non-compliance.
The Punjab government’s counsel informed the court that funds had been allocated in the budget for the installation of 200,000 water meters. In response, the court instructed that a formal progress report, on official letterhead, be submitted at the next hearing.
Expressing concern over the non-payment of health allowances to traffic wardens, the court criticized the Finance Department, remarking, “Those who truly deserve allowances are not being given any.”
Commenting on climate change, the court noted that the weather has become extremely hot, with a two-degree Celsius increase in temperature. The court warned that heatwaves, climate change, and other environmental threats are coinciding and called for immediate and serious action.
Regretting the public’s careless attitude, the court remarked that people are wasting water without realizing its value. “Ask the people of Sindh what water means to them,” the judge said.
Concluding the session, the court ordered all relevant departments to submit implementation reports and adjourned the hearing until June 17.
Don’t know what was the logic for testing cars emissions excluding daily driven commercial vehicles? And if govt is so concern why don’t they tax free EVs and adopt minimum energy standards for household and industrial equipments to begin with?