- Justice Shahid Karim of Lahore High Court issued a three-page order.
- Lahore ranks second in the list of most polluted cities today.
- The High Court adjourned the hearing of the smog-related case till December 3.
The Lahore High Court on Monday ordered the concerned authorities to impound vehicles that do not undergo fitness inspection as part of measures to combat smog in the city.
Justice Shahid Karim of the Lahore High Court issued a three-page order at the last hearing on applications to deal with smog and remarked that vehicles without checking should be impounded.
The development comes at a time when smog is suffocating people in many parts of the country and Lahore is among the world’s most polluted cities with an “unhealthy” air quality index (AQI).
Lahore, home to millions and a major economic hub, boasts of a large number of vehicles and several industrial units that contribute to high AQI readings.
On Sunday, the district administration imposed a fine of Rs 13.5 million on vehicles without fitness certificates and vehicles causing smog and pollution in the month of November.
Under the direction of Deputy Commissioner Lahore Syed Musa Raza, a strict crackdown is underway against smog-causing vehicles. Two legal cases were registered during the campaign, and two drivers were arrested for serious violations.
From November 1 to 30, a total of 16,184 vehicles were inspected across Lahore. Of these, 2,691 smog-emitting vehicles were fined and 1,307 impounded.
Additionally, 1,602 vehicles without a fitness certificate were fined, and 1,023 were impounded. During this month, the fitness of 8000 vehicles was assessed and fitness certificates were issued to 5000 vehicles that met the technical standards.
During the hearing today, the court also asked for the report of the industries running in Rahim Yar Khan district.
According to the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) lawyer, trees are planted as per World Health Organization (WHO) standards. There is a shortage.
The court remarked that the PHA said the proportion of trees in the city was much lower than 71.2%.
The Lahore High Court adjourned the hearing of the case till December 3 (tomorrow).