The commissioner of Lahore on Tuesday imposed Section 144 in Lahore including Sheikhupura, Nankana Sahib, and Kasur to prevent smog and contain pollution across the division.

The district administration, traffic police, Lahore Development Authority, and other departments have been directed to initiate legal action against the violators of the rules.

According to the notification, strict action will be taken against those who keep construction materials outside the under-construction buildings, and driving trolleys without covering in the capital city of Punjab.

Additionally, the burning of municipal waste, polythene bags, solid waste, rubber, and leather products has also been banned across the division.

Under Section 144, owners and contractors found burning crops and crop remains will also face strict legal actions.

It is pertinent to mention that the Lahore High Court had proposed that no new construction and development projects should be started during smog season to improve the quality of air.

The court on October 6, took up petitions demanding action to prevent smog, where the Punjab government’s lawyer was asked about major projects being carried out in Lahore.

The lawyer replied that five projects were currently in progress and the project in Shahdra was expected to be completed soon.

During the proceedings, the judge proposed work on the Babu Sabu interchange should begin in February. The judge added that it was a good proposal to refrain from beginning new projects during the smog season.

A study showed that high levels of pollution mainly caused by India are severely affecting parts of Pakistan as the life expectancy of Pakistanis reduce by around four years.

India is responsible for about 59% of the world’s increase in pollution since 2013, as hazardous air threatens to shorten lives further in some of the country’s more polluted regions, the University of Chicago’s Energy Policy Institute said in its latest Air Quality Life Index.