Islamabad, June 20, 2025: Lahore High Court Justice Shahid Kareem has issued a firm directive for immediate legal action against individuals involved in unauthorized tree cutting in Lahore. He warned that violators may face severe penalties, including contempt of court charges. The remarks came during a hearing focused on Lahore’s environmental degradation and poor air quality.
Justice Kareem expressed strong disapproval of the Environment Department’s enforcement unit, highlighting its failure to regulate smoke-emitting vehicles and its overall inefficiency in urban areas. He called for a detailed performance report of the unit to assess its deployment and effectiveness.
During the proceedings, the court also demanded a complete review of the Yellow Line Train project along Canal Road, reiterating that cutting trees in the protected Canal Road zone is prohibited under the Canal Heritage Act. The Act serves to preserve Lahore’s historical and environmental integrity.
In a related development, the court reviewed a report by the Environmental Commission concerning the provincial government’s hesitancy in granting risk allowances to traffic wardens. The allowance is estimated to place an annual burden of nearly Rs 3 billion on the provincial budget.
Addressing pollution concerns, the court has now mandated that all market associations install catalytic converters on generators to reduce toxic emissions. Moreover, the Pakistan Housing Authority highlighted that reforestation projects are underway, and tree removal in Canal View Housing Society for solar panel installation has been officially banned.
In an effort to tighten environmental compliance, industries discharging contaminated water must now submit biannual environmental reports. WASA representatives confirmed the procurement of 10,000 new water meters, with an additional 200,000 planned under the Annual Development Programme to enhance water management.
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Prominent officials in attendance included Deputy Attorney General Asad Ali Bajwa, Assistant Advocate General Hasan Ijaz Cheema, and Deputy Director of Environment Ali Ijaz, among others. The next court session is scheduled for June 27.
