LHC orders 2 weekly offs for all educational institutions till the end of Jan in Punjab to curb smog

The Lahore High Court (LHC) has directed the Punjab government to implement two days weekly off for public schools, colleges and universities and all educational institutions till the end of January 2024.

LHC’s Justice Shahid Karim issued the directives in a three-page order on pleas seeking court’s intervention in tackling smog in the province.

In a written order issued today on a set of environment-related petitions, the LHC acknowledged that the caretaker Punjab government had “announced measures such as closure of schools and colleges on Saturdays” in line with the court directives.

However LHC said a notification should be issued mentioning “at least closure of public schools, colleges, universities and all educational institutions for each Saturday till the end of January 2024”.

“Also, the government shall take measures for declaring two days in the week as work from home in the private sector in the province of Punjab,” LHC directed.

The court noted that the notification should not have been issued under the provisions of the Punjab Infectious Diseases (Prevention and Control) Act, 2020.

It added that the Lahore deputy commissioner’s decision to issue the notification under the Punjab National Calamities (Prevention and Relief) Act, 1958 should have been taken into consideration.

The court explained that the 1958 law was appropriate and that could be used to “place a restriction on the movements of public and to close and shut down schools and colleges”.

“It is, therefore, directed that any such notification to be issued either by the Secretary, Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department, Government of Punjab or by the office of the Deputy Commissioner, Lahore shall be issued in consultation with the Members of the Commission. Further, it is directed that the notification shall mention at least closure of public schools, colleges and universities and all educational institutions for each Saturday till the end of January 2024,” the order stated.