LAHORE, November 7, 2024: The Lahore High Court has imposed a ban on the operation of smoke-emitting commercial generators in areas designated as ‘green lockdown’ zones, in an effort to control growing air pollution in the city.
Justice Shahid Karim, who was hearing petitions filed by citizens, including Haroon Farooq, to address the ongoing smog crisis, ordered that all commercial generators in these areas be equipped with pollution control devices within the next seven days.
If the generators fail to meet the new requirements, the court has directed that they be sealed until the necessary modifications are made to reduce harmful emissions.
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In addition to the ban on generators, the court instructed authorities to remove encroachments in high-pollution hotspots, which contribute to both air pollution and traffic congestion.
Justice Karim commended the efforts of the current government and the Director General of the Environment for their ongoing initiatives, noting that these actions would help improve the city’s environmental conditions.
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The court also noted that the public prosecutor had informed them that “superseeds” had been distributed to farmers as part of a strategy to reduce crop burning, a major contributor to seasonal smog.
Further addressing pollution concerns, the court directed the Lahore Division Commissioner to submit a detailed report on the operations of Kasur tanneries within the next 15 days.