LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Friday took a strong exception to the inauguration of Kalma Chowk Underpass (Extension) one track by the caretaker chief minister of Punjab and also suspended construction work on Akbar Chowk flyover.

Justice Shahid Karim observed that inauguration of development projects was not the mandate of a caretaker government.

The judge also expressed his annoyance over the traffic jams in the city due to the ongoing matches of the Pakistan Super League and the constriction works on different development projects. including the underpasses.

“Does Lahore Development Authority want the citizens to die in traffic jams?” Justice Karim asked the government’s lawyer. The judge was hearing multiple petitions relating to environmental issues and smog.

The judge restrained the LDA from initiating any new development project in the city.

“The smog is very dangerous for the health of people living in Lahore,” the judge remarked.

The judge summoned the chief secretary and the chairman of the planning and development with a compliance report on the ban on felling of trees.

The judge also issued a show cause notice to the chairman of the planning and development for withholding the budget for the purchase of machinery for safe disposal of the stubble.

Justice Karim said the people involved in felling of the trees would be jailed.

The judge issued a separate order to Lesco against cutting the trees in the city.

Separately, Justice Karim dismissed an application seeking relaxation of one hour in the timings of the bakeries during the upcoming fasting month of Ramzan.

The bakeries and other shops have been ordered to be closed at 10pm.

Published in Dawn, March 5th, 2023