Pakistan

LHC orders to close schools, colleges on Saturdays in smog-hit Punjab districts

Published

9 months ago

Farwa

Court orders introduction of work-from-home policy for 2 days.
Judge asks interim govt to remove DCs in six districts.
“Most smog is caused by vehicle exhaust,” judge says.

LAHORE: Justice Shahid Karim of the Lahore High Court on Monday ordered the government to close all schools and colleges on Saturdays in Punjab as the provincial authorities fail to curb smog.

The directives from the LHC judge came during a hearing today pertaining to measures taken by the Punjab government to control air pollution that has reached dangerous levels in recent days.

The judge, reprimanding the Lahore commissioner, also ordered the introduction of a work-from-home policy for two days a week.

“Commissioner Lahore has failed completely in controlling smog. He talks big but nothing happens on the ground. Just a notification is issued to shut everything,” he remarked.

Justice Karim also ordered the immediate removal of deputy commissioners in Sheikhupura Jhang, Hafizabad, Khanewal, Nankana and Bahawalnagar, saying that the situation is very bad in these districts. He ordered the chief secretary of Punjab to immediately issue a notification to transfer the aforementioned officers.

The judge also ordered the removal of the director general environment.

“Videos of crop residual burning being shared are very disappointing,” he said.

The judge remarked that everything is shut down through a notification, adding that all the officers go on leave after the government announcement.

The judge said the entire city gets disrupted if the traffic stops for five minutes. “Most smog is caused by vehicle exhaust.”

The Lahore Development Authority (LDA) counsel said the provincial government constructed an underpass in just 70 days.

“The smog that will follow this construction will affect us through the winter. You may have become an underpass expert, but also consider other matters,” he observed.

Justice Karim ordered the commission member to hold a meeting with the Punjab chief secretary and inform him about the court orders.

The court adjourned the hearing till Wednesday.

Last week on November 8, the Punjab government announced a public holiday on November 10 (Friday) in Lahore, Gujranwala and other districts due to prevailing smog in the province, announcing the closure of all markets, shopping malls, restaurants, cinemas, gymnasiums, schools and public and private offices.

Later, the provincial government lifted the lockdown after a heavy spell of rain in parts of Punjab on Friday which washed away the smog, subsequently improving the air quality.

Latest News

Rainfall throughout the night stops flights in Lahore.

Published

14 hours ago

Farwa

Allama Iqbal International Airport experienced many hours of flight disruption due to the intense rainfall and windstorms that occurred overnight in Lahore, the provincial capital of Punjab.

Aviation sources claim that because of the monsoon weather, the flight operation was unable to operate between 3 and 4 am.

It is possible that the planes will arrive at the airport at 4 am.

Amidst delays in foreign airline flights, three aircraft made landings in Multan and Peshawar.

Riyadh flights arrived in Peshawar Airport, while flights scheduled to land in Lahore in Abu Dhabi and Bahrain ended up landing in Multan Airport.

Seven hours later than scheduled, the Qatar Airways flight from Doha arrived in Lahore.

Because of the bad weather, there are delays in the arrival and departure of numerous international planes.

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Changes to Pakistan’s Test team could be significant for the Bangladesh series.

Published

14 hours ago

Farwa

Major changes to Pakistan’s team are anticipated ahead of the forthcoming Test series against Bangladesh, sources in Lahore have revealed.

As the team gets ready for the series, meetings with the players are planned for next week.

It is predicted that the Test squad would undergo several changes. The team’s lineup is expected to be strengthened by the likely inclusion of Muhammad Huraira. Key players like Faheem Ashraf, Wasim Jr., Saim Ayub, and Nauman Ali, whose contributions are vital to the team’s success, struggle to get a spot on the squad.

Furthermore, according to sources, Imamul Haq or Sahibzada Farhan are anticipated to be added to the team, subject to additional assessment. Furthermore, following a fitness assessment, Amir Jamal and Hasan Ali’s futures will be determined.

The ultimate selection for the Test team will take place following Red Ball head coach Jason Gillespie’s return to Pakistan. The ultimate squad that will play Bangladesh in the forthcoming Test series will be greatly influenced by his assessments and thoughts.

Pakistan is scheduled to visit New Zealand in March and April of 2025, according to the country’s official cricket schedule, which was released earlier this month.

Throughout their visit, the Pakistan cricket team will play three One Day Internationals (ODIs) and five Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) in an exciting series.

The T20I series, which starts at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on March 16, will serve as the tour’s opening event.

Latest News

PM Meets With KP Lawmakers: Promises Progression and Relief Efforts in Province

Published

14 hours ago

Farwa

Khyber Pakhtunkhawa lawmakers are given assurances by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif regarding the province’s development, namely in the amalgamated districts, with a particular emphasis on the provision of standard health and educational facilities.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa National and Provincial Assembly members paid a visit to Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif at PM House.

During the meeting, the Prime Minister stated that the PML-N Government has always given priority to the development of the combined districts.

The prime minister promised that the combined Districts would have standard health and educational facilities, and that Danish Schools would be established nearby to offer local pupils an education of the highest caliber possible.

The PM also underlined the importance of promoting solar energy, combating electricity theft, and helping the middle class and impoverished.

He said that in order to boost the agriculture sector’s growth, expand the amount of land under cultivation, and reduce the nation’s reliance on foreign fuel imports, the government was converting agricultural tubewells to solar energy nationwide.

According to PM Shehbaz Sharif, the government recently provided significant reduction from electricity rates for those with low and moderate incomes.

At the event, he also announced the creation of a committee headed by the deputy prime minister, whose goal will be to identify long-term solutions to the issues facing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s elected officials.

He argued that in order to preserve the nation from going into default, the current government had to make difficult political choices in order to revitalize the economy.

The parliamentarians gave Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif high marks for his visionary leadership in transforming Pakistan’s economy.