SC seeks reports from provinces to eliminate pollution

Islamabad: The Supreme Court’s constitutional bench has sought positive reports from all four provinces on measures to eliminate environmental pollution within three weeks.

The Constitutional Bench headed by Justice Jamal Mandokhel heard the environmental pollution case and consolidated all the environmental pollution cases.

The order asked about the steps taken to eliminate pollution. The environmental pollution case cannot be kept pending indefinitely. Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar said that the process of appointing the chairman of the environmental authority has been completed.

Justice Musarat Hilali remarked that no one can even lay a brick without the permission of the Environmental Agency. Despite the presence of the agency and the law, there are a lot of housing societies. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, there are marble factories next to school buildings, and the officers of the environmental agency do not leave their offices.

Justice Jamal Mandokhel stated that smog is a big issue these days, asking about the causes of smog and the treatment for its elimination. The Director General (DG) Environment Agency said that they have taken important steps following court orders.

Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar said that this is the job of the court to monitor your institution. If the court has to look into the issues of environmental pollution, then what is the need for institutions?

Justice Naeem Afghan stated that housing societies are being built by eliminating farms. Lahore has gradually reached Sheikhupura. There are also a lot of housing societies in Islamabad and fertile land is being destroyed for housing societies. Why not promote apartments instead of societies? Cultivation is being destroyed and the environment is being polluted.

It is pertinent to note that former Chief Justice Naseem Hassan Shah had taken notice of the matter in Lord Nazir's 1993 letter.