LHC orders closure of restaurants, markets by 10pm in smog-bitten city

Smog: LHC orders restaurants' closure by 10pm in Lahore

 

LAHORE (Dunya News) - The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday ordered closure of restaurants and markets in the provincial capital by 10pm due to smog.

 

The highr court resumed hearing on petitions relating to several environmental issues, in which Justice Shahid Kareem directed the authorities to ensure closure of all eateries, markets, and commercial centres well in time considering the rising intensity of smog in the city. The order says restaurants will be closed for the public by 10 pm on normal days while the closure time will be 11pm on weekends.

In the previous hearing, the LHC had directed the Punjab government to keep schools in Lahore closed for three days a week as there had been an alarming situation of smog in the city.

The court while passing orders to the relevant authorities had stressed close monitoring for the implementation of the directives.“Now these directives have to be monitored,” the court said.

The Lahore commissioner held a consultative meeting with commercial and wholesale traders on Tuesday. He had announced that all markets in the city would be closed by 10pm on weekdays and remain completely shut on Sundays.

While the court, in the hearing today, said the markets might remain open on Sundays. “Don’t close the markets on Sundays for now,” the court stated.

The LHC further remarked that the restaurants might also be allowed to remain open till 11pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Earlier, the Air Quality Index (AQI) of Lahore was quite high recording 4.1 times above the recommended limit given by the WHO 24 hrs air quality guidelines value.

Due to smog causing a number of allergies and disease including breathing problems, heart issues and many more among people of all age groups.