The Lahore High Court relaxed trading hours on Friday and permitted all markets to stay open till 1 am until Eidul Fitr. On a weekly basis, Justice Shahid Karim held a hearing on multiple environmental issues.
The court issued instructions before the fasting month began requiring restaurants and bakeries to close by 10 p.m. during the first five days of the week and by 11 p.m. on weekends.
The retailers had asked the judge to extend the hours of operation during Ramadan so that people may shop for Eid after Iftar and Tarahweeh.
Due to the impending Eidul Fitr, Justice Karim granted the request and extended market hours till 1 am. On the matter of trees, the judge stated that future instances of tree-felling would not be permitted. He pointed out that citizens of the United States were not even allowed to cut trees inside their homes.
The judge ordered the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) to present its upcoming citywide tree-planting campaign. To combat the heat, a police officer suggested planting trees next to the city canal.
The judge instructed the Water and Sanitation Agency to reevaluate the Lahore groundwater level.
In addition to ordering the deputy commissioner to provide a new report on the actions taken against brick kilns for failing to adopt the new environmentally friendly technology, he deferred the remaining hearing until April 14.
The judge had last week given the bakers permission to stay open every day during Ramazan until 1 am.
