The Lahore High Court (LHC) has directed that no new schools be registered without a proper school bus plan in place.
Justice Shahid Karim issued this directive while presiding over hearings on multiple petitions addressing smog control, pollution reduction and groundwater conservation on Monday.
During the proceedings, the secretary for schools informed the court about a newly devised provincial policy requiring all schools to adopt a school bus system as a condition for registration.
Justice Karim emphasised that schools failing to comply with this policy would face cancellation of their registration.
Justice Karim also instructed authorities to conduct a thorough traffic plan assessment for Lahore's roads to mitigate congestion and smog-related issues.
Commending the government's ongoing efforts to tackle smog, he stressed the urgency of implementing the school bus policy before the next smog season.
In his remarks, Justice Karim highlighted the importance of this initiative, citing its potential to alleviate traffic jams caused by school drop-offs and pickups.
He urged elite institutions such as Aitchison College to lead by example, implementing a robust school bus system for their students.
Addressing traffic management, Justice Karim expressed concern over the congestion caused by bus terminals near Thokar Niaz Baig and called for a comprehensive plan to resolve the issue.
He reiterated that there would be no tolerance for negligence in combating smog, emphasising the need for tangible action over superficial standard operating procedures (SOPs).
The court has sought detailed traffic and implementation plans from the relevant authorities, with further proceedings to follow.
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