Govt directed to control smog

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Thursday directed the Punjab government to take all precautionary measures to control smog.

Justice Jawad Hassan passed the direction disposing of a public interest petition in the light of a report submitted by Director General of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Tanvir Warraich. The report said that an action against more than 567 industrial units had been taken and in future the government was taking every possible measure to control smog. It said recommendations by a smog commission, made by the court in past, had also been taken into consideration while adopting measures to eliminate the harmful weather. It said schools and colleges would remain closed if the air quality index worsened and rose above 500 microgram per cubic metre. Justice Hassan appreciated the efforts of the government and observed that it must continue its endeavour to take action against smog. Petitioner’s counsel Sheraz Zaka had contended that Lahore, Gujranwala and Faisalabad had become one of the most polluted cities. He said smog commission recommendations had not been implemented by the government.