The Lahore High Court has directed the CTO Lahore to submit a detailed report in petitions filed regarding smog prevention measures. The court remarked that serious traffic violations are being ignored while authorities are only targeting motorcyclists. The court further observed that increasing fines may be one step toward traffic control, but it is not a complete solution.
Justice Shahid Karim of the Lahore High Court heard the petitions filed by Haroon Farooq and others. During the hearing, the CTO Lahore informed the court that a strict crackdown related to smog had been underway for the past week, including action against trailers carrying sand.
The court questioned what action was taken against the vehicles being impounded and remarked that although the matter primarily falls under the Environment Department, there should be a proper mechanism to ensure strict action against repeat offenders.
Addressing the CTO Lahore, the court observed that coordination with the Environment Department was necessary. The CTO responded that meetings had already been held with the Director General Environment. The court remarked that a large number of vehicles in Lahore were contributing to smog and criticized the traffic management system, noting that four traffic wardens often stand on one side of the road merely stopping motorcyclists while serious traffic violations go unchecked.
The CTO Lahore informed the court that amendments to traffic laws had led to increased fines. However, the court remarked that merely increasing fines was not the solution to the problem. The court stated that while higher fines may help control traffic to some extent, they cannot serve as a complete remedy, adding that smog must be controlled from now onward.
The court also questioned the whereabouts of the electric scooters purchased by the Environment Department, asking whether they were parked at officials’ homes because they were not visible on the roads. The court observed that if those scooters were actually used on the roads, many issues could be resolved.
Justice Shahid Karim further remarked that if officials went out on the roads once or twice a week without protocol, they would witness many ground realities themselves. The court also criticized the poor road infrastructure, observing that roads are patched arbitrarily wherever authorities deem fit. Referring to a road cut near Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, the court remarked that an unnecessary cut had been created there. During the proceedings, the judge humorously observed, “We can at least mention Shaukat Khanum’s name,” prompting laughter in the courtroom.
The court subsequently adjourned further hearing on the petitions until next week.
