LHC orders to seal pollution causing factories

Lahore: Justice Shahid Karim of Lahore High Court (LHC) Friday heard the citizen's appeal to remedy the smog after which the court ordered to seal the pollution causing factories.

According to details, Justice Shahid Karim of the High Court heard the petition of citizen Haroon Farooq to remedy the smog, while Commissioner Lahore Muhammad Ali Randhawa appeared before the court.

During the hearing, the court ordered that the factories which are emitting black smoke be sealed which will not be de-sealed until their owners give an affidavit.

The court ordered to give an affidavit that the factory will be demolished if there is a repeat violation.

Justice Shahid Karim remarked: “These two months are very important, it seems we are going on the right path now. Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) is sleeping and have to make them realize. Next year, we will have to take big steps at the beginning”.

He also directed to make picture of smoke emitting vehicles. Commissioner Lahore said that action will be taken indiscriminately against smog-emitting vehicles. We have also instructed the traffic police to stop vehicles that spread smoke in the environment.

Mohammad Ali Randhawa added: “We have taken a lot of steps for the trend of cycling, we have talked to Traffic Engineering and Planning Agency (TEPA) to make a track for cycling and will try to give discounts on hotels to cyclists”.

The court directed him to involve the private sector also to resume cycling in these five to six months.

Commissioner Lahore stated that they will now advertise in the newspaper that deforestation is a crime.

Later, the court adjourned the case for further hearing till November 07.