LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Thursday ordered the provincial government to impose a fine of Rs50,000 on the violators of the ban on crop stubble burning in addition to strict implementation of zigzag technology in the brick kiln industry.

Justice Shahid Karim passed the order hearing different petitions relating to the environmental issues, including the growing smog.

A report submitted on behalf of a court-made environment commission stated that 476 industrial units and brick kilns had been inspected to ensure compliance of the smog-related measures. Of these, it said 170 units had been sealed for greenhouse gas emissions, while cases had been registered against 66 others for flouting provincial disaster management authority’s directions.

The report further stated that cases had also been registered against 17 brick kilns and 36 others sealed for not converting the units to zigzag technology.

It said 1,108 vehicles had been impounded, while 7,875 others challaned for emitting excessive smoke. An amount of over Rs4.2 million had been recovered under the head of challans, it added.

On behalf of a petitioner, Advocate Sheraz Zaka pointed out that the sugar mills had not installed water treatment plants, resulting in discharge of polluted water.

Justice Karim directed the Punjab government to impose heavy fines on the industrial emissions across the province as Lahore had become one of the most polluted cities in the world due to smog.

The judge reminded the environmental protection agency that the court would not allow any brick kiln to get exemption from the installation of the latest zigzag technology.

He also directed the commission to assist the government to levy aquifer charges on the companies involved in exploitation of underground water.

The hearing was adjourned till Dec 10.

ADJOURNED: An accountability court on Thursday adjourned hearing of a money laundering reference due to non-appearance of Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif and his son Leader of Opposition in Punjab Assembly Hamza Shehbaz.

A counsel on behalf of the duo told the court that both had been out of the jail for five days on parole to attend the funeral of Shehbaz’s mother. He said the government extended the parole of the father and the son for one day so they could receive the people visiting them for condolence.

The counsel also filed two separate applications on behalf of his clients for one-time exemption from personal appearance in the hearing.

Presiding Judge Jawadul Hassan allowed the applications and adjourned further hearing till Dec 8. The judge also sought a complete reply from the home secretary on an application of Mr Shehbaz seeking medical facilities in the jail.

On the last hearing, the judge had declared three members of the Shehbaz’s family absconders after they avoided appearance in the proceedings. They were Shehbaz’s son Suleman, daughter Rabia Imran and son-in-law Haroon Yousaf.

Published in Dawn, December 4th, 2020