LAHORE - A writ petition has been filed in the Lahore High Court seeking action against factories established in residential areas of Punjab.  The Pakistan Mazdoor Itehaad filed the petition and stated that countless factories and industries had been functioning in residential localities of the province in connivance with the authorities concerned. He said these factories have been established illegally but government remained failed to take any action against them. The petitioner has requested to the court to order the Punjab government, Lahore Development Authority, Building Department and others to take action against all such illegal factories and close them down. He appealed for a judicial inquiry for fixation of responsibility of all fire incidents occurred in past and to ensure their punishment. Reportedly, fires in such factories in Karachi and Lahore killed more than 300 people – and been blamed on barred windows, shoddy building standards and the flouting of basic safety regulations. Rescue workers said the factory was a death trap, with many of those inside having no chance to escape the flames and toxic fumes.