The Lahore High Court (LHC) heard several petitions on Monday regarding effective measures to control smog in the region.
Justice Shahid Karim, presiding over the hearing, directed all schools to re-register within a month and emphasized the enforcement of a school bus policy. He instructed School Education Secretary Khalid Nazir to cancel the registration of any school that fails to comply with the bus policy.
Nazir presented proposed regulations for private schools, stating that new registrations will only be granted to schools providing bus services. “We have implemented a policy where only schools with buses will be registered,” he confirmed, adding that buses would be mandatory under the new rules.
Justice Karim stressed the seriousness of the issue, noting that school owners have the resources to implement the policy. He ordered the government to finalize the rules and ensure compliance before the next smog season.
The court also requested a detailed traffic plan from the Lahore Development Authority’s director general, addressing violations on Multan Road, where traffic rules are often not followed. “There are bus depots and societies on Multan Road where traffic rules are not being adhered to,” the court remarked.
Justice Karim expressed satisfaction with the government’s efforts to tackle smog but emphasized the urgency of addressing the environmental crisis. “The environmental issue has become critical, and no more time should be wasted,” he stated.
During the proceedings, the judge also questioned the jurisdiction of Aitchison College. The school secretary clarified that Aitchison College falls under the Higher Education Department, prompting Justice Karim to instruct the Punjab government’s lawyer to inform the institution of the new policy.
The petitions, filed by Haroon Farooq and others, highlight growing public concern over environmental degradation and its health consequences. Justice Karim reiterated the importance of implementing all court orders before the next smog season to ensure tangible progress.
The Punjab government’s legal representative, Advocate Hassan Ijaz, assured the court of ongoing efforts to address the environmental crisis.
