LHC wants 50 per cent attendance in offices due to smog

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Thursday ordered the Punjab government to ensure 50 percent attendance of employees in private offices, at least for the next seven days, due to the worsening smog situation in the province.

Justice Shahid Karim rejected a suggestion about closure of schools in case the Air Quality Index (AQI) exceeded 400 mark in a particular area. However, he directed the provincial government to issue a notification on the same lines as the lockdown notifications during the pandemic, requiring the private offices to ensure 50 per cent work from home for at least one week.

The judge ordered the government to take similar measures at the government offices which are to a large extent feasible enough to be implemented.

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“This means that government of Punjab shall take necessary steps so that as many officers as possible may work from home during next week,” the judge said in his written order.

Justice Karim also directed the city traffic officer to arrange one dedicated telephone line or a Whatsapp application which shall be displayed on all major roads of Lahore to help curtail traffic congestion.

The judge also directed the motorway police to be involved to check stubble burning on the M-2 motorway.

The judge observed that it was insufficient that Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) alone be monitoring the proceedings with the deputy commissioners. He said a smog crisis room shall be set up in the office of the PDMA and a meeting once a day at least shall be held under the chair of judicial and environmental water commission.

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Earlier, a report was filed with the court regarding the recommendations made at a meeting held between the judicial commission and at the Wasa headquarters attended by the officials of the PDMA, agriculture and environment departments.

Rejecting the recommendation to close the schools, the judge observed that the closure of schools would affect the academic activities of the students who had already suffered because of the lockdowns during the pandemic.

The judge adjourned further hearing till Friday (today).