Punjab Govt imposes 10 PM market, 11 PM restaurant closure timings in Lahore to tackle smog

LAHORE: The Lahore District Administration has reaffirmed its decision to strictly enforce the 2023 anti-smog order, under which all markets in the city must close at 10 PM from Monday to Saturday, according to news.

According to the district administration, the step aims to reduce smog levels across the city. On Sundays, markets will remain open from 2 PM to 10 PM.

New Business Hours:

Restaurants and cafés will be allowed to stay open until 11 PM on regular days, while on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, they can serve customers until midnight. Home delivery services will be permitted until 2 AM.

Essential services such as medical stores, tandoors, milk shops, hospitals, and petrol pumps will remain exempt from these restrictions.

Officials added that there is no need for a new notification, as the original 2023 order is still valid.

Court Expresses Concern Over Smog Measures:

A day earlier, the Lahore High Court (LHC) expressed dissatisfaction with the Punjab government’s efforts to tackle the worsening smog situation.

Justice Shahid Karim, who has been overseeing smog-related cases for the past seven years, remarked that 70% of Lahore’s pollution comes from transport and urged authorities to take practical steps instead of shifting blame.

The court also directed action against smoke-emitting vehicles and hinted at daily hearings to monitor progress.

Justice Karim emphasized that the court’s role was not to target anyone but to help guide the government toward effective environmental action.

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