LAHORE: Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar on Monday said that the court is receiving complaints that Pakistan State Oil (PSO) is importing poor quality petrol.
The chief justice was presiding over a three-member bench of Supreme Court (SC) during the course of hearing of a suo motu notice pertaining to elimination of air pollution, disposal of hospital waste material and non-installation of water treatment plant.
Justice Nisar said that the court is verifying complaints that petrol coming from Iran is of good quality but the petrol being imported by PSO is not up to the mark.
Head of Judicial Commission on Air Pollution and Smog Dr Pervrez Hassan filed a detailed report in the court in this regard.
He said that the only Solid Waste Disposal Unit located at Mehmood Booti in Lahore is insufficient, adding that 40 per cent of air pollution is generated due to the emission of smoke by vehicles. The air pollution could not be overcome due to non-maintenance of euro standard, he said, adding that there are four mobile units to assess air quality while there must be 40 such units only in Punjab.
He further told the court that institutions and laws are in place for the eradication of pollution but their implementation is non-existent. He asked the court to issue orders for setting up air commission and its monitoring for curbing pollution.
The court ordered the head of smog commission to present before it the method for implementation of recommendations within 10 days.
The court also directed to complete installation of 13 plants regarding hospital waste disposal soon and monthly progress report about the installation of plants should also be submitted in the court.
The court also summoned progress report about the installation of water treatment plant in Lahore.
The CJP remarked that water started becoming clean due to the installation of water treatment plant with a capacity of several million gallons in Karachi. Water from hospitals and solid waste is causing diseases in Lahore, he said, adding that those who have made promises will have to deliver them.
The CJP adjourned the hearing of the case till August.