LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Friday directed all schools to provide transportation for students after the upcoming winter vacation as part of measures to combat smog.

During the hearing on multiple petitions regarding environmental issues, Justice Shahid Karim observed that students must be transported to and from their homes via school buses.

“Schools failing to comply with the order will face closure,” the judge maintained.

The judge also warned schools from sending notices to parents disclaiming responsibility for students’ transportation.

Says institutions failing to comply with the order will face closure

The judge also ordered the government to form a transportation policy addressing vehicle fitness within 15 days. He directed the transport department to conduct inspections of vehicles every three months and issue fitness certificates. He said the department must maintain data on all public and private buses.

As part of a symbolic gesture, Justice Karim directed the provincial government to have three-year-old Amal Sukhera inaugurate the newly procured mobile vehicular emissions testing units.

Amal had filed a petition before the court seeking mandatory emissions testing of all vehicles in Punjab.

The judge also directed the government to file a report with its plan for quarterly emissions testing and issuance of fitness certificates to transport vehicles, and of testing of vehicles generally also.

The hearing was adjourned till Nov 26.

Published in Dawn, November 23th, 2024