LHC orders crackdown on smoky vehicles to tackle smog in Punjab

LAHORE (Dunya News) — The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday directed the Punjab government to launch a rigorous province-wide campaign against smoke-emitting vehicles in an effort to curb worsening smog and air pollution.

Justice Shahid Karim issued the order while hearing multiple petitions related to environmental pollution and the rising smog levels across the province. He stressed on strict action against polluting vehicles.

He instructed the authorities to conduct the campaign for at least two to three weeks and ensure its strict implementation, noting that vehicles traveling long distances, particularly from Lahore to Karachi, were a major source of air pollution.

Officials from the Environment Protection Agency (EPA), Parks and Horticultural Authority (PHA), and other departments appeared before the court. However, Justice Karim expressed dissatisfaction over the absence of a director-level officer from the EPA, despite his earlier directive.

Taking exception to vehicular pollution, the judge ordered the EPA to install banners across Lahore warning motorists that smoke-emitting vehicles would be impounded. An EPA official informed the court that such banners had already been placed in various parts of the city.

Justice Karim instructed the agency to deploy its officers, along with police personnel, at intercity bus terminals and motorway toll plazas to check vehicles. He also directed authorities to conduct strict inspections along the GT Road from Lahore to Multan.

“If the court’s previous orders had been implemented in letter and spirit, Lahore’s atmosphere would have been clean,” Justice Karim remarked, directing the authorities to take action against anyone responsible for contributing to pollution.

The court also ordered the Punjab government’s law officer to convene a joint meeting involving the environment department, the chief traffic officer, and the transport department to coordinate enforcement efforts.

During the proceedings, an EPA representative informed the court that around 60 tons of old tyres had been seized from industrial plants in South Punjab and other cities, as part of the ongoing anti-pollution drive.

Over the past few weeks, Lahore has consistently ranked among the most polluted cities in the world. According to the global air monitoring platform IQAir, the city recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 177 on Friday — a level classified as “unhealthy” and the fifth worst globally.

Earlier this week, the LHC had also expressed concern over the city administration’s inadequate response to the smog crisis, questioning the effectiveness of anti-smog guns and the continued cutting of trees. Justice Karim clarified that the court’s proceedings were not meant to target officials but to guide and assist the government in addressing the environmental emergency.