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The Lahore High Court has taken a decisive step in addressing the issue of smog in the city by placing a complete ban on the cutting down of trees. Justice Shahid Karim also instructed the Punjab government to create legislation that would make tree felling a criminal offense. The judge took notice of multiple public interest petitions that had been pending for some time, concerned with environmental and water pollution issues, and noted that the air quality and smog situation in Lahore was unsatisfactory.
The Environment Protection Department was restrained from granting permission for tree cutting in relation to any development projects in the city. A government representative informed the court that the caretaker government of Punjab had submitted a working paper seeking help from the Beijing government to control smog. The judge directed the representative to expedite the process and share the working paper with the Chinese government through the federal government.
Justice Karim also directed the city traffic police to display emergency numbers on roads that experience frequent traffic congestion, allowing commuters to access real-time information by making contact. The judge also emphasized a zero tolerance policy for traffic rule violations. The next hearing has been scheduled for February 17th.
