ISLAMABAD: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has attributed the current smog situation in Lahore to the incumbent government and has instructed the administration to declare a citywide emergency. These orders were issued in response to pleas requesting the court’s intervention in addressing the smog issue.
During the court hearing, officials, including Lahore Commissioner Muhammad Ali Randhwa, were present. The court directed the government not to reopen factories responsible for emitting black smoke and urged students in schools and colleges to report such factories to the authorities.
Furthermore, the commissioner and other officials were instructed to visit educational institutions and inform students about the decision concerning these polluting factories.
Justice Shahid Karim, while addressing the officials, pointed out that the government bears responsibility for the current smog situation. He emphasized that they have the authority to take action as the custodians of the city. Justice Karim also noted that smog, which traditionally appeared in November and December, had now started as early as October. He emphasized that the smog issue affects not only himself but also the well-being of children.
The judge adjourned the hearing until November 3.
According to a reports, Lahore is currently engulfed in smog, described as a “poisonous gas chamber,” with a recorded Air Quality Index (AQI) of 255. For three consecutive days, Lahore has been ranked as the world’s most polluted city.
Officials in the district administration claimed that heightened VVIP movement in the city, with the caretaker Prime Minister and Chief Minister visiting ongoing development projects, led to increased vehicular emissions due to manual traffic management at various signals.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sources revealed that some furnaces in northern Lahore were operating at night using sub-standard fuel such as rubber tires and plastics. Additionally, numerous factories in different industrial areas of the city were contributing to the worsening air pollution. It was reported that the campaign against smoky vehicles was lackluster, and the use of PSCA cameras for action against such vehicles remained merely a statement.
The primary reason for reduced visibility (haze) in Lahore on Tuesday was an increase in fine particles, particularly PM2.5. Citizens interviewed on the streets reported experiencing various health problems.
Health experts emphasized that the size of these particles is directly linked to their potential to cause health issues, especially particles smaller than 10 micrometers in diameter, which can penetrate deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream, affecting both the lungs and heart. Dr. Tariq Chishti, a general physician, highlighted the health risks associated with exposure to such particles.
