LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Thursday ordered the Punjab government to ensure 50 per cent attendance of employees in private offices at least for the next seven days due to the prevailing smog in the province.

Justice Shahid Karim rejected a suggestion about closure of schools in case the Air Quality Index (AQI) exceeded the 400 mark in a particular locality. However, he directed the provincial government to issue a notification on the same lines as lockdown notifications during the pandemic requiring private offices to ensure 50pc work-from-home policy for at least a week.

The judge was hearing se­v­eral petitions regarding environmental issues. He ord­ered the authorities to take similar measures for go­v­ernment offices to the extent feasible to implement.

“This means that the government of Punjab shall take necessary steps so that as many officers as possible may work from home during next week,” the judge said in his written order.

Justice Karim also directed the city traffic officer to arrange a dedicated telephone line or a Whatsapp number that shall be displayed on all major roads of Lahore to help curtail traffic congestion. He also directed the motorway police to check stubble burning on the M2 motorway.

The judge observed that it was insufficient that the Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) alone was monitoring the proceedings with deputy commissioners. He said a smog crisis room shall be set up in the office of the PDMA and a meeting held once a day at least under the chair of the judicial and environmental water commission.

Earlier, a report was filed in the court regarding the recommendations made at a meeting held between the judicial commission at the Water and Sanitation Agency headquarters attended by officials of the PDMA, and agriculture and environment departments.

Rejecting the recommendation to close schools, the judge observed that the move would affect academic activities of the students who had already suffered because of the lockdowns during the pandemic.

An LDA official told the court that focal persons had been appointed for three major ongoing development projects to coordinate with the Environment Protection Agency to ensure compliance of the standards regarding environmental pollution. The judge adjourned further hearing till Friday (today).

AQI LEVELS: Meanwhile, as the provincial capital retained the top spot as the most polluted city in the world with hazardous air quality levels on Thursday, residents started complaining about various health issues.

Once called the ‘city of gardens’, the air quality levels of Lahore have been continuously falling to hazardous since last week. The Punjab government declared the phenomenon a calamity.

On Thursday, New Delhi, India was the second most polluted city, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan third, while Beijing and Wuhan in China featured on fourth and fifth spots, respectively, according to data released by the US AQI.

At 10pm, the city recorded AQI of 367 that classified as “hazardous”. Individual areas of Lahore fared worse with Kot Lakhpat (industrial area) crossing 510, Anarkali Bazaar 504, Allama Iqbal Town 440, Eden Cottages 448, Township 442 and Fatehgarh 477.

Khalil Ahmed, a citizen from Township, said the weather and air condition in his locality always remained hazardous as it was close to the industrial area. He has not seen anyone checking air pollution in his locality and people have been suffering from eye irritation, breathing issues and throat infections.

A resident of Gulberg, Sheharyar, said it was alarming how poor the air quality had become with each passing day and smog made the city perpetually hazy. There’s hardly any sunlight and people are falling ill left, right and centre, he added.

Zulqernain, a resident of NFC Society, said smog and poor air quality had affected his morning walk. “I have to walk in my room that is not an alternate to outdoors,” he remarked.

Meanwhile, the district administration continued its anti-smog activities by checking industrial units in the city and sealing 18 of them for causing pollution. The Punjab inspector general of police also claimed to have arrested 67 people and registered 92 cases against activities causing smog.

Punjab Environment Protection Minister Muhammad Rizwan has asked the FIA to take action under cyber laws against any person/company issuing air quality data on social media without approval of the environment protection department.

Published in Dawn, November 19th, 2021