Lahore High Court praises Punjab government's anti-smog steps
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The Lahore High Court (LHC) has praised the Punjab government's steps to stem smog, the 24NewsHD TV channel reported on Monday.
Justice Shahid Karim lauded the Punjab government for its measures to combat smog while taking up pleas on the matter.
“All these initiatives are laudable. If this work continues with consistency and passion, it will have far-reaching positive results in Punjab, especially in Lahore,” the judge maintained.
The Punjab government has started considering relocating industries in and around Lahore, the court heard.
The Punjab government lawyer presented short-, medium- and long-term policy material and policy records for environmental protection.
According to the AG, the anti-smog stems include measures to curb the emission of smoke from vehicles and limit stubble burning by farmers.
The government has initiated the distribution of super seeder machines at a 60% subsidy to replace the traditional practice of stubble burning, a significant contributor to smog.
The advocate general informed the court that the government had implemented a task force to enforce stricter regulations, including a ban on smoke-emitting vehicles and instructions for the public to hold weddings in October instead of the peak smog months of November, December, and January.
The court expressed confidence in the government's approach and noted that smog reduction efforts should be replicated across other divisions of Punjab.
"The smog policy is an excellent initiative, and it should be extended to other regions," said Justice Karim.
The court also underscored the crucial role of the transport sector in pollution, which is responsible for 70 to 80 per cent of environmental degradation in the province.
The use of smuggled, low-grade fuel in the sector was flagged as a significant issue, with the court drawing a comparison to Beijing, where the entire industrial sector was relocated to reduce air pollution.
The court adjourned the hearing until Friday, emphasizing the government must remain vigilant to protect the people from smog hazards.