Court Warns: Construction and Vehicle Smoke Worsening Lahore’s Air

The Lahore High Court voiced its concerns about the large amount of construction happening across Lahore, saying it is one of the main reasons the city’s air quality is getting worse, DAWN reported.

During a hearing about smog and pollution cases, Justice Shahid Karim said that using anti-smog guns will not fix the problem because the situation is too serious. The judge also said that old and smoke-emitting vehicles are adding to Lahore’s pollution. 

This is not the first time Lahore has faced this issue. Every year, the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) ranks among the highest in the world in IQAir’s list. There are several reasons behind this, and vehicle emissions are one of the major contributors.

To address the problem, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched several initiatives, such as issuing green stickers, using water-spray guns, and imposing fines on smoke-emitting vehicles.

However, the AQI crisis is too severe to be solved quickly. Improving air quality will take consistent effort and time. While Lahore’s AQI has improved, the problem is far from resolved; lasting change will require sustained, long-term efforts.