LHC warns of week-long ‘climate emergency’

Court seeks comprehensive report on air pollution

LAHORE:

The Lahore High Court cautioned to go on environmental emergency or lockdown for a week if the air quality index does not seem good and the smog existed more than a certain level.

Justice Shahid Karim was hearing different petitions on how smog could be controlled, how society could be made pollution-free and how groundwater could be protected.

As the proceedings commenced, Justice Karim questioned whether any department of the government monitors the air quality to which the counsel of the petitioner responded that it was the job of the environment department.

Provincial Disaster Management Authority Director informed the court that the air quality was at 400 AQI after an improvement from 600 AQI owing to the local holiday (Monday). He added that if Monday’s public holiday continues, the air quality index will improve.

On a question about the burning of stubble, the focal person of the Judicial Water Commission implored the court that the incidents of burning stubble have been reduced.

Justice Karim intimated observing that be ready we may go on environmental emergency or lockdown for the sake of good air quality. Justice Karim directed the quarters concerned to call a meeting to ponder over a proposal about the environmental emergency. “We can go on the one-week climate emergency,” Justice Karim observed.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 2^nd, 2021.