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LHC orders 2 weekly offs for Punjab school, colleges till Jan end to curb smog

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  • LHC issues directives on pleas filed against smog in Punjab.
  • Says Punjab National Calamities Act right law to limit restrictions.
  • Also orders two-day work from home in private sector.

LAHORE: In a bid to help curb smog, the Lahore High Court (LHC) has directed the government to implement two days weekly off for public schools, colleges and universities and all educational institutions till the end of January next year.

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

The order 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, 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 shutdown 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 end of January, 2024,” said the order.

The court also ordered that two-day work from home should be imposed on private sector companies and ordered the exclusion of gyms from the notification as it was a “continuation of COVID-19 restrictions”.

“The report by the Punjab Transport Company has also been filed which shows action against smog emitting vehicles and the fine which has been imposed. It has been informed by the Members of the Commission that the industrial units which were sealed on the orders of this Court have been found to be functional on inspection conducted by the Commission itself. It is directed that not only reports regarding the prosecution of such industrial units shall be filed but also names of the relevant officers of the Environment Protection Department who were required to keep these greenbelts as scaled. Departmental action shall be taken against these officers on the next date of hearing,” said the order.

Face masks mandatory

With the arrival of winters, smog has become a problem in multiple cities of Punjab and the government has been scrambling to control the issue as the provincial capital remains ranked high on the air quality index.

In a bid to counter deteriorating quality in Punjab, the caretaker government on Sunday made it mandatory for all citizens to wear a face mask for a week in the smog-hit districts of the province.

Countries in South Asia have seen a marked increase in industrialisation, economic development, and population growth over the past two decades, leading to increased demand for energy and fossil fuels.

While sources like industries and vehicles affect most countries, certain major contributors are unique to South Asia, including solid fuel combustion for cooking and heating, human cremation, and burning of agricultural waste.

About 38% of the pollution in New Delhi this year, for example, has been caused by stubble burning — a practice where stubble left after harvesting rice is burnt to clear fields — in the neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana.

An increase in the number of vehicles on roads as the region has developed has also exacerbated the pollution problem. In India and Pakistan, for example, the number of vehicles has increased four-fold since the early 2000s.

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Minister of Finance Reaffirms Unwavering Support for APM Terminals Group in Effort to Strengthen Bilateral Cooperation

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Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, Pakistan’s Minister of Finance, has promised the APM Terminals Group his full support in creating an environment that is both business-friendly and conducive to investment.

In Islamabad, he met with a group of APM terminals who had come to hear him speak. Keith Svendsen, CEO of APM Terminals, was in charge of the group.

Muhammad Aurangzeb, a senator from Pakistan, expressed his approval of APM Terminals’ investment plans.

Following last month’s signing of a memorandum of agreement to strengthen bilateral cooperation, the meeting’s emphasis was on the actions taken to date.

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Meeting with Ch. Shujat, Mohsin Naqvi promises to eradicate Pakistan’s terrorism problem.

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Mohsin Naqvi, the federal interior minister, visited Quaid-E-Azam Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, the leader of the Pakistan Muslim League, at his home in Islamabad.

Mohsin Naqvi and Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain condolenced with the martyrs’ families and denounced the Quetta explosion.

The government’s unwavering commitment to eradicate terrorism from Pakistan at all costs was reaffirmed by Moshin Naqvi. The government supports the martyrs’ families, he said.

In honor of the martyrs of the Quetta blast, he declared that new buildings will be named in Islamabad.

Mohsin Naqvi was also congratulated by Shujaat Hussain on Pakistan’s victory against Australia in the ODI series.

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The Hajj Policy 2025 is formally announced by the federal government.

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The official announcement, which included important revisions from the Hajj Policy 2025, was reportedly given by Federal Minister for Religious Affairs Chaudhry Salik Hussain.

The government and private programs will split the Hajj quota evenly, with each receiving 50%, according to Hajj Policy 2025. Furthermore, it is policy that minors under the age of twelve will not be permitted to perform the Hajj this year.

The Hajj Policy 2025 further states that if a pilgrim dies, their family will be reimbursed with Rs 2 million, and similarly, pilgrims who are hurt will also receive compensation.

The new installment-based Hajj fee payment scheme was adopted by the Hajj Policy 2025, giving first-time pilgrims preference. However, people with severe or communicable diseases will not be permitted to attend this year.

In introducing the proposal, Chaudhry Salik stressed that measures will be taken to avoid lowering the limit. General pilgrims will receive any quota that is left over from the sponsored program. Additionally, there is a specific quota of 5,000 for Pakistanis living abroad.

In accordance with the guideline, the cost of the Hajj will stay between Rs1.075 million and Rs1.175 million, and pilgrims will shortly receive their Rs100,000 back.

Three installments are available for the Hajj fee under the Hajj Policy 2025: Rs. 250,000 at the time of application, Rs. 480,000 following the lottery, and the remaining amount prior to Hajj departure.

He said that if money is taken out prior to the application deadline, there will be no deductions made in terms of returns. After the lottery, however, if the first installment is reimbursed, Rs50,000 will be deducted; if the third installment is not paid, Rs200,000 will be deducted.

If a pilgrim decides not to go after February 10th, the remaining payment will not be reimbursed; however, the deductions listed above will not be applicable if the applicant dies.

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