Lahore High Court Seeks Notification Of Air Pollution Standing Commission's Formation

Fakhir Rizvi Published October 27, 2018 | 12:32 AM

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday sought notification of the formation of the Air Pollution Standing Commission formed by the Supreme Court.

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 26th Oct, 2018 ) :The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday sought notification of the formation of the Air Pollution Standing Commission formed by the Supreme Court. The court directed a provincial law officer for producing the notification on the next date of hearing, December 16.

Justice Ayesha A Malik passed the orders while hearing a petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Waleed Iqbal through Advocate Shiraz Zaka against non-implementation of smog commission recommendations.

During the hearing, a counsel on behalf of Dr Pervez Hassan, Chairman Smog Commission, submitted a reply. The counsel stated that the Supreme Court had constituted the Air Pollution Standing Commission for the purpose of implementation of guidelines prepared by the smog commission which was formed by the Lahore High Court in 2017. He submitted that the commission had decided to extend the date for the closure of brick kilns by another week.

He stated that Punjab had been divided into three zones; red, yellow and green. "Green zones are comprised of areas where smoke emissions are minimum and no brick kilns will be sealed in such areas.

Yellow zones are comprised of moderate smoke emission areas and these areas will be monitored and analyzed for abrupt weather changes. Red zones are comprised of high smoke emission areas and all kilns using older form of technology will be banned in these areas", he explained. The court was further apprised that directives of the Supreme Court would be implemented in pith and substance.

At this, the court adjourning further hearing sought notification.

The petitioner had submitted the entire Punjab province was adversely affected by the spillover effects of smog. He submitted that the Smog Commission's recommendations had not been implemented and that Chief Secretary Punjab and Secretary Environment had failed to perform statutory obligations.