Pakistan's Lahore High Court has constituted a six-member commission to recommend measures to control the growing vehicular pollution. Authorised to investigate, collect evidence and examine witnesses, the panel is to submit its report by September 30.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had taken suo moto action to curb environmental degradation. Taking cue from the apex court's order dated May 23, 2003, the environment protection, transport and traffic police departments had launched a "vigorous campaign' against smoke-emitting vehicles in five major cities of Punjab province. Such drives have earlier failed to achieve much. A report in the daily Dawn said: "Ironically, neither the Punjab government nor the EPD (environment protection department) have so far taken any practical steps to control pollution. Around 70 per cent public and private vehicles in the city are