The Lahore High Court has taken decisive action to address environmental and public health concerns by ordering a ban on vehicles emitting smoke.

This decision came during a hearing on petitions filed for the eradication of smog. During the proceedings, Justice Shahid Karim issued directives for immediate measures against vehicles emitting smoke. The court instructed the traffic police to take strict action against such vehicles and to promptly report violations to the relevant authorities.

"Traffic police should take action against smoke-emitting vehicles and inform the department concerned," the court ruled.

Additionally, the motorway police were tasked with addressing cases of lighting fires and enhancing control over fire incidents in the motorway environs. "There are a lot of fires in the motorway environs, which should be controlled," the court said.

The court emphasized the motorway inspector general (IG) to ensure the orders are implemented, failing which could result in contempt of court actions.

In a related development, the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) of Punjab submitted a detailed report on heat stroke incidents, highlighting ongoing efforts to mitigate the impact of extreme heat.

According to the report, a heat stroke awareness campaign has been launched to educate the public on preventive measures.

Moreover, the PDMA reported that 20 water bowsers, each containing 12,500 liters of water, have been dispatched to Cholistan to provide relief to residents affected by water scarcity.

The hearing, presided over by Justice Shahid Karim, was conducted on petitions of citizen Haroon Farooq and others. It was adjourned, with further deliberations scheduled for next Friday.