LAHORE, July 29: The Lahore High Court on Wednesday constituted a six-member commission for presenting its findings to the court on measures to be adopted to control vehicular air pollution.

While accepting a petition filed against the City District Government, the environment protection department and the Lahore DIG for having failed to take immediate steps to counter vehicular air pollution, Justice Sair Ali entrusted the newly-constituted commission with the responsibility of preparing a comprehensive report to be furnished with the court by Sept 30.

With the consent of both the parties, the court appointed Advocate Dr Pervez Hassan as chairman of the commission. Punjab Advocate-General Syed Shabbar Raza Rizvi (co-chairman), Advocate Syed Mansoor Ali Shah (facilitator and coordinator), the deputy attorney-general, the Lahore Naib Nazim, the EPD director-general were other five members.

As directed by the court, the commission would suggest feasible solutions for monitoring, controlling and improving vehicular pollution. For this purpose, the commission was authorized to investigate, collect evidence and examine witnesses during its investigation. Besides this, it would also collect relevant local and international reports on vehicular air pollution while it would further invite opinions and suggestions from stock-holders, experts, industries and people from both public and private sectors.

The court observed that vehicular air-pollution commission on its own could adopt further steps as deemed necessary by it for the purpose of completing the report.

Petitioner Mansoor Ali Shah had pleaded the court to issue directions to the respondents for taking drastic measures to contain the vehicular air pollution. He had requested that a commission be constituted in this regard for making recommendations after a thorough study.