LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) expressed disappointment with the Punjab Government’s decision to extend market hours until 10pm, suspecting the influence of pressure groups and mafias behind the move.
Justice Shahid Karim presided over the hearing, which addressed multiple public interest petitions, including smog mitigation efforts.
During the proceedings, the Advocate General of Punjab was questioned about altering market hours without prior approval from the court. To which he said that I would gather a report on what basis the market timings were changed.
Justice Shahid Karim also directed the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) to devise a policy for street vendors, saying that the intention was not to harass small vendors, measures must be taken to allocate specific spaces for them to avoid traffic disruptions.
The Advocate General informed the court about plans to establish vehicle inspection points every six months to ensure roadworthiness. Justice Karim suggested tagging vehicles with fitness certificates and linking the information to Safe City cameras for efficient monitoring.
He also stressed prioritising inspections of motorcycles and small loaders, citing them as significant contributors to pollution. Additionally, the court called for action against waste burning along the Ring Road.
The LHC urged officials to implement and sustain policies to combat smog effectively. Justice Karim reminded authorities that smog mitigation is a shared responsibility and requires collective efforts from all relevant departments.
The court adjourned the hearing, directing all departments involved to submit comprehensive reports by next Friday.
Read more: Lahore, Karachi rank among top three world’s most polluted cities
