Seeks vehicle fitness policy
The Lahore High Court on Friday ordered all schools to provide transport to students, while also seeking a fitness policy for vehicles within 15 days as part of efforts to curtail smog.
Dense smog, caused by toxic pollutants, has engulfed several cities in Punjab over the past few weeks, with Lahore and Multan being the worst hit. The AQI reading in Multan has already crossed 2,000 twice, setting a new record for air pollution.
Justice Shahid Karim presided over the proceedings, where he heard a petition filed by citizen Haroon Farooq and other residents.
He ordered that once the winter vacations were over, schools should provide transport for picking up and dropping off all students, warning that institutions not implementing the orders would be sealed.
Excessive toxic smoke emitted by vehicles is said to be the primary contributor to air pollution and related adverse health impacts. “No school should write to parents saying they will not take responsibility for the children,” Justice Karim said.
He also ordered that the transport department formulate and submit a vehicle fitness policy within 15 days.
“The transport department should also inspect the fitness of a vehicle every three months, and issue a fitness certificate to vehicles,” the judge observed.
“The transport department must have data on all public and private buses,” Justice Karim noted.
He ordered three-year-old Amal Sukhera, who had filed a petition for the enforcement of the fundamental right to a clean and healthy environment, to inaugurate the mobile units that inspect vehicles’ fitness.
The proceedings were then adjourned till November 26 (Tuesday).
