Lahore (Web Desk): The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday directed that all commercial operations in Lahore remain closed every Sunday as part of renewed efforts to curb the city's escalating smog and pollution crisis.
During the hearing of petitions related to environmental concerns, Justice Shahid Karim ordered the complete suspension of business activities on Sundays and reiterated the enforcement of the 10pm shutdown for marriage halls across the provincial capital.
Once again, Lahore found itself ranked as the most polluted city in the world, recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 372 at 8:30am on Tuesday -- classified as "hazardous" by global air monitoring agency IQAir.
Deputy Commissioner Lahore Musa Raza appeared before the court and presented official notifications enforcing the early closure of restaurants and markets. Justice Karim, however, emphasized that issuing orders alone would not suffice, insisting on their strict implementation to achieve tangible results.
The court also instructed that a senior official from the Environment Department must attend every hearing to brief the bench on progress and enforcement measures.
A commission member informed the court that excavation work near Khayaban-e-Firdousi was leading to severe traffic congestion.
In response, Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) legal adviser Irfan Akram explained that sewerage system upgrades were in progress and assured that comprehensive updates would be provided in the next session.
The court directed WASA to submit detailed progress reports and timelines for all ongoing projects during the next hearing, which was adjourned until November 7.
Provincial authorities have attributed Lahore's worsening air quality to polluted winds blowing in from India and adjoining regions, resulting in a dense haze that has engulfed much of Punjab and northern India.
The smog has severely reduced visibility and triggered a rise in health complaints such as persistent coughing, throat irritation, and breathing difficulties.
Experts link this annual air quality crisis to the onset of winter, when stagnant winds, low temperatures, and emissions from vehicles, industries, and crop residue burning trap pollutants close to the surface. Every year, this combination of factors blankets the plains of Punjab in toxic smog.
Health experts warn that continuous exposure to polluted air can have grave consequences.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), inhaling hazardous air over extended periods can lead to heart disease, strokes, lung cancer, and various chronic respiratory illnesses.