LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has suggested a complete shutdown of commercial activities on Sundays to tackle worsening smog conditions in the city.
The court also directed authorities to strictly enforce the existing notification mandating markets to close by 10 p.m. and restaurants by 11 p.m. Justice Shahid Karim of the LHC heard petitions filed by citizen Haroon Farooq and others.
During the proceedings, Deputy Commissioner Lahore Mohsin Raza appeared before the court. The judge inquired why the notification for early market closures was not being implemented, noting that the order dates back to 2023.
Responding to it, the deputy commissioner confirmed that, according to the notification, markets must shut by 10 p.m. and restaurants by 11 p.m.
During the hearing, Justice Karim remarked that a proposal is under consideration to completely halt commercial activities on Sundays for at least a month to help reduce pollution levels. He further emphasized that marriage halls should also close strictly by 10 p.m. and noted that while violations of the “one-dish” rule at weddings continue, it does not directly relate to environmental issues.
The court also instructed that traffic movement in the city should not be stopped even for five minutes and directed the deputy commissioner to submit a report on the matter.
Expressing concern over ongoing Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) projects, the judge remarked that the agency’s construction work has been dragging on for six months, causing disruption across the city. The court asked WASA to clarify when its projects would be completed, observing that “their projects start but never seem to end.”
Justice Karim criticized the agency for leaving large pipes on roads for months, calling it a serious safety hazard that has led to multiple accidents. He added that excessive dust across Lahore has worsened the pollution problem, questioning how smog guns could function effectively in such conditions.
The court stressed that every department must fulfill its responsibilities, noting that it is not the court’s job alone to ensure compliance. It questioned why the Environment Department, WASA, and the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) were not imposing fines for violations.
WASA was ordered to submit complete details of all its ongoing projects, including the timelines for their completion as per the original contracts. The court adjourned the hearing of the smog case until Friday.
