School children move court over smog in Lahore

LAHORE: School-going children have filed a petition in the Lahore High Court (LHC) against the ‘hazardous’ level of smog and air pollution in the Punjab province.

On Tuesday morning, Leila Alam and her class fellows sought the acting Chief Justice Mamoon Rashid Sheikh’s attention to the deteriorating air quality in Lahore and its surrounding areas. The children’s lawyer, Rafay Alam, told the court that the Environment Protection Department, Punjab, considered the air quality index (AQI) of 182 as safe to breath, when by international standards the index should not cross 50.

Read also: Citizens’ report: Smog chokes Lahore again

Last week, the city’s air quality crossed safe limits and was recorded at well over 400. The city also has continued to be shrouded by a toxic blanket of smog since October.

Health experts say that children and the elderly are most vulnerable to the dirty air.

The LHC has directed the Punjab government to submit its reply in the next hearing.