Smog commission meets today

LAHORE: The smog commission constituted by Chief Justice of Lahore High Court Syed Mansoor Ali Shah will meet today (Friday) to look into the causes of smog and also to implement the environmental laws to prevent the effects of smog/air pollution.

The commission is headed by Dr Pervez Hassan and other members include advocate Sheraz Zaka, secretary environment Saif Anjum, office-bearer nominated by president Lahore High Court Bar Association, Barrister Sarah Belal, secretary health Najam Shah and additional advocate general Anwar Hussain.

The commission will present a report on January 18, about the progress made by the Punjab government on the implementation of environmental laws to overcome smog and its deleterious effects.

The chief justice had constituted this commission while hearing petitions of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Lahore president, Barrister Walid Iqbal and others. Petitioner counsel Sheraz Zaka had submitted that in 1952, the great smog was faced by London which thereafter implemented environmental laws and in 1956 implemented Clean Air Act.

He argued that in order to curb air and noise pollution during the times of British prime minister Margaret Thatcher, coal industry in entire Britain was closed off.

He had said that in Pakistan, the reason behind the smog was lack of enforcement of environmental laws and dysfunctional central laboratory in Lahore which is due to the negligence of Punjab environmental protection agency.

He had submitted that the government had not taken any adequate awareness measures among the public. He had said that the Punjab environmental protection agency failed to perform its statutory obligations and enforce pollution charge rules and the federal government was flouting its international obligations under Paris Agreement 2015. He pointed out that even EPA testing laboratory was not functioning.

He requested that the provincial government and environmental protection agency should be asked whether the industrial activity taking place in the city was being scrutinised under Pollution Charge Rules 2001 or the agency is performing its statutory obligations.He also requested to inquire from the authorities as to what remedial measures have been taken to address the prevailing weather condition arising from the toxic smog.