LAHORE – In a legal battle against growing concerns over impact of smog in Lahore, the Lahore High Court (LHC) has granted permission for the city’s business centers to extend their operating hours until midnight ahead of fast approaching Christmas.
Justice Shahid Karim of the LHC passed the order while hearing the case.
There are detrimental effects of dense smog caused by factors such as vehicle emissions, industrial activities, and the burning of crop residue.
The court observed that the smog, prevalent during the initial winter days, was linked to respiratory problems and various health issues.
The court allowed shopping centers to remain open until midnight on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, providing a window for businesses to continue operations while facilitating ongoing preparations for the upcoming Christmas festivities.
The court proposed strategic measures to combat air pollution. It included urging the resolution of issues related to rice mills and recommending the implementation of rooftop gardening plans, seen as potential contributors to mitigating air pollution.
The Punjab’s caretaker government had earlier taken steps to tackle the smog threat. The provincial authorities also conducted an artificial rain in Lahore through cloud seeding.
Punjab CM Naqvi reported that approximately 10% of Lahore’s areas experienced rainfall due to the cloud seeding experiment.
A many as 48 flares were deployed for cloud seeding, and Naqvi expressed gratitude to the Environment Department and the UAE team for their collaborative efforts for artificial rain for the first time in Lahore.
