The Punjab cabinet’s standing committee on smog on Tuesday deferred the proposed three-day closure of schools and also banned the use of Euro 2 Oil in Lahore for a period of one month, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.  

Quoting sources, the channel reported that the committee recommended to the Lahorites to use Euro 5 Oil for their cars instead.

It was agreed that schools could be closed in case the situation with respect to smog deteriorated further.  

LHC directs PDMA to submit Smoke Emergency Plan 

Expressing displeasure over what the court called inadequate steps taken by the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) to control smog in Lahore, the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday ordered PDMA DG Raja Mansoor to devise a smoke emergency plan and submit it to the court day after tomorrow (November 18, Thursday), reported 24NewsHD TV channel. 

LHC directed PDMA DG to devise the plan in collaboration with commissioner Lahore, DG environment and chairman Environmental Commission.

Judicial Environmental Commission’s focal person, on the occasion, submitted to the court a report along with the images of the provincial capital’s atmosphere taken from the satellite which showed highest pollution levels. 

The report showed that the Punjab government had failed to take action against those burning the stubble of cotton and wheat crops in the province.     

Azhar Siddique Advocate, representing Haroon Farooq and Judicial Activism Panel, the petitioners in the case, told Justice Shahid Kareem of the LHC that brick kilns were still operating in the vicinity of Lahore and the crops’ residue was also being burnt openly.

“The smog is increasing with each passing day due to which people are falling sick, but the provincial government is not bothered,” he added.

Reporter Ali Ramay