LAHORE: The Punjab government has proposed limiting weddings in Punjab including Lahore during the peak smog season in a broader effort to battle toxic air pollution.
Advocate General Punjab presented a new smog mitigation policy to the Lahore High Court (LHC), saying that from next year, weddings will be prohibited between October and December, having the worst air quality.
The court commended the government, stating that this government has implemented better measures than the previous one. The court highlighted that in many countries, shops close by 5 PM to reduce emissions, unlike in Pakistan, where businesses stay open well into the night.
During the hearing, the LHC judge suggested the government implement a one-dish restriction on weddings and reduce celebrations to a single event, instead of the current three.
The court adjourned the hearing until November 15, urging the government to consider a permanent smog policy.
Earlier, the Punjab government announced the closure of schools and colleges in several divisions of the province due to smog. The order, issued by the director general of environment Imran Hamid Sheikh, mentions educational institutions in Sargodha, Rawalpindi, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur, and Sahiwal divisions.
All institutions, from nursery to grade 12, including academies and tuition centres, will remain closed from November 13 to 17. According to the notification, the classes will be shifted to online.
