The Lahore High Court (LHC) has been spurred into action, ordering authorities to enact a smog emergency in Lahore. In previous years, the haze of smog typically descended towards the end of November and December. But this year, the onset as early as October has set alarm bells ringing. The court has involved the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) in the response and called for a community-wide awareness-raising campaign.
Justice Shahid Karim, who presided over the case, voiced his dissatisfaction with the current situation. ‘The government holds a substantial responsibility for this ongoing crisis,’ he said, pointing to the city’s deteriorating state. The primary cause of the smog, he noted, is the burning of crop residues in Indian Punjab.
The court’s directives are manifold, aiming to combat the smog crisis from multiple fronts. It has ordered a crackdown on vehicles emitting smoke and factories that pollute the environment, even authorizing the commissioner of Lahore to seal offending establishments. To minimize traffic congestion and emissions during the day, the court instructed the execution of repair works on underpasses during the night. A new helpline will be launched, and bicycles will be made available for rent, promoting less polluting commuting options.
The city has been declared one of the world’s most polluted cities for three consecutive days. The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Lahore has been recorded at 255, indicating hazardous levels of air pollution that have transformed the city into a ‘poisonous gas chamber.’
The smog, a toxic cocktail of various pollutants, poses significant health risks to Lahore’s residents. Sources in the district administration have identified several culprits, including the burning of crop residues in Indian Punjab, the operation of furnaces using sub-standard fuel, and emissions from factories in different
