LAHORE(National Times)- Justice Shahid Karim of the Lahore High Court has reinstated Justice (retired) Ali Akbar Qureshi as the Chairman of the Judicial Water Commission, directing all relevant departments to provide full cooperation to the commission. During the proceedings, Justice Karim expressed serious concern over air pollution caused by vehicles traveling from Lahore to Karachi and interior Sindh, noting that emissions from such vehicles significantly degrade Lahore’s air quality. He emphasized that the Grand Trunk Road should not be ignored in anti-smog efforts. The court also instructed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to extend its focus beyond Lahore city limits, ensuring officers are stationed at major entry and exit points of the city. The EPA was directed to submit a duty roster to the court, with a strict warning that no smoke-emitting vehicles should be seen in Lahore over the next two weeks. Justice Karim remarked that if earlier court orders had been fully implemented, the situation might have improved considerably. During the hearing, WASA submitted a report stating that Phase One of its development projects had been completed, and funds had been transferred to the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) for road repairs. Lawyer Altamash Saeed pointed out that the Air Quality Index (AQI) inside the court premises had exceeded 190 and suggested installing air purifiers.
The court, after issuing the directives, adjourned the smog control case until Monday.