The Lahore High Court has taken decisive action against Punjab's worsening air pollution crisis, directing the provincial government to launch an extensive campaign targeting smoke-emitting vehicles across the province.
Court Directs Immediate Action Against Polluting Vehicles
Justice Shahid Karim issued these crucial directives on Friday while presiding over multiple petitions addressing environmental pollution and rising smog levels throughout Punjab. Emphasizing the urgent need for concrete measures, the judge ordered authorities to conduct a strict campaign lasting at least two to three weeks, with particular focus on long-distance vehicles traveling between Lahore and Karachi.
Justice Karim specifically identified these intercity transport vehicles as major contributors to the region's deteriorating air quality. Representatives from multiple departments including the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) and Parks and Horticultural Authority (PHA) appeared before the court during the hearing.
Enforcement Measures and Official Accountability
The court expressed significant dissatisfaction with the absence of a director-level EPA officer despite prior instructions, highlighting ongoing implementation concerns. In practical enforcement measures, Justice Karim directed the EPA to display warning banners across Lahore indicating that smoke-emitting vehicles would be impounded.
An EPA official informed the court that such warnings had already been placed in several city areas. The court further instructed the agency to deploy officers, accompanied by police personnel, at key locations including intercity bus terminals and motorway toll plazas for vehicle inspections.
Additional strict checking points were ordered along the GT Road from Lahore to Multan to intercept polluting vehicles. Justice Karim remarked with concern that "If earlier court orders had been implemented in true spirit, Lahore's air would have been clean by now", urging authorities to hold all pollution contributors accountable.
Coordinated Government Response and Current Pollution Status
The court instructed the Punjab government's law officer to convene a joint meeting involving the environment department, chief traffic officer, and transport department to coordinate enforcement efforts. This coordinated approach aims to address the pollution crisis more effectively.
During proceedings, an EPA representative reported significant progress in the ongoing anti-pollution drive, confirming that approximately 60 tons of old tyres had been confiscated from industrial units in South Punjab and other areas.
Lahore's air quality situation remains critical, with the city consistently ranking among the world's most polluted urban centers. According to global air quality tracker IQAir, Lahore recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 177 on Friday, classified as "unhealthy" and ranking as the fifth worst globally.
Earlier this week, the LHC had also raised concerns about the administration's inadequate response to the smog crisis, questioning the effectiveness of anti-smog guns and ongoing tree cutting. Justice Karim clarified that the court's interventions aim not to penalize officials but to assist the government in effectively tackling what has become an environmental emergency for Punjab's residents.
