LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Sunday ordered a complete ban on commercial activities in Lahore to help control smog and environmental pollution.
Justice Shahid Karim heard petitions related to measures against smog. During the hearing, Lahore Deputy Commissioner Mosa Raza presented a notification regarding the closure of markets at 10 p.m. and informed the court that restaurants have also been ordered to close by the same time.
Justice Karim remarked that issuing notifications is not enough; strict implementation is necessary. He said the purpose of the restriction is to control smog, which is worsening due to increasing pollution levels.
A member of the Environmental Commission informed the court that WASA had dug up an area near Khayaban-e-Firdousi, causing traffic jams. WASA’s Legal Advisor Irfan Akram explained that the sewerage system in Lahore is being upgraded. The court directed WASA to submit a project timeline at the next hearing.
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The LHC also ordered strict enforcement of the 10 p.m. closure rule for marriage halls. The court directed a senior Environment Department officer to appear at every hearing and submit compliance reports.
The hearing was adjourned until November 7.
Meanwhile, in view of the increasing smog across the province, the Punjab government has decided to revise the timings of all public and private educational institutions.
According to the Education Department, all schools in the province will now open at 8:45 a.m. No institution will be allowed to open before the given time, and strict action will be taken against violators. The new schedule will remain effective until January 31, 2026.
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Sources said that the Education Department has directed all district officers to ensure full implementation of the orders. Schools violating the directive could face fines ranging from Rs100,000 to Rs1 million.
A spokesperson for the department stated that the decision was necessary to protect students’ health and reduce their exposure to severe air pollution caused by smog.
