LAHORE/ISLAMABAD: The Lahore High Court today ordered the authorities concerned to extend the closing timings for theaters to 11:30pm.
Earlier, the court fixed 8pm deadline for the theaters to close their activities.
LHC Judge Justice Shahid Karim gave the relief to the theaters on the petition of the Punjab Artist Producer and Theaters Association on Tuesday.
The Association requested the court to extend working hours for theaters to 11.30pm.
The LHC bench observed that people must alter their lifestyle to overcome the hazardous smog.
Justice Shahid Karim also stated that the people in Lahore must follow “early to bed, early to rise” strategy to reduce smog.
Meanwhile, the court also directed the Punjab government to extend holidays of all educational institutions for a week because of extreme smog in the city.
The court gave the order while hearing petitions which sought intervention of the Lahore High Court to protect students from hazardous smog.
The Lahore High Court has summoned the director general of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority in the next hearing to look into the smog problem.
During today’s hearing, the LHC noted that the smog situation is improving to an extent.
The court remarked that is the responsibility of the government to handle the smog problem. Lahore High Court adjourned the hearing till Friday.
Moreover, the LHC had earlier ordered the closure of educational institutions for three days a week, (Friday, Saturday, and Sunday) to control children’s exposure to hazardous air.
The court remarked that 2022 is the fifth consecutive year for the residents of Lahore to face hazardous air atmosphere.
