• LHC imposed a complete ban on felling of trees in Lahore
• The decision is a major step towards curbing smog
• The judge said air quality index and smog situation were below par

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Friday imposed a complete ban on felling of the trees in the provincial metropolis as a major step towards curbing smog.

Justice Shahid Karim further ordered the Punjab government to introduce a piece of legislation to criminalize the felling of the trees.

The judge heard multiple identical petitions of public interest pending for long on the issues of environmental and water pollution.

The judge observed that the air quality index and the situation of smog in Lahore were below par.

He restrained the environment protection department from issuing a NOC to cut trees for any development project in the city.

A law officer told the court that the caretaker government of Punjab had issued a working paper seeking assistance by the government of Beijing to control smog.

The judge directed the law officer to expedite the process and share the working paper with the Chinese counterparts through the federal government.

Justice Karim ordered the city traffic police to display emergency numbers on roads facing regular traffic jams so the commuters could get latest information by making contacts.

The judge also asked the police to adopt a policy of zero tolerance against violation of traffic rules. The judge adjourned further hearing till Feb 17.

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