LAHORE: The Lahore High Court has constituted a five-member committee to probe the flooding of the newly-constructed Central Business District (CBD) underpass during the first monsoon rain.

The committee comprises WWF senior programmes director Dr Masood Arshad, Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa) planning and development director Zeeshan Bilal, chief executive officer of an environmental consultancy firm Ali Hassan Habib, senior environment specialist Abid Shah Hussainy and Zahid Aziz of the World Bank.

A written order of a last week’s hearing issued by Justice Shahid Karim states that the members of a court-made water commission shall inform the members of the inquiry committee to embark upon their assignment and file a report on the next hearing.

The judge observed that the Wasa had no role in the drainage plan and it was indeed shocking that an amount of Rs250m had been undertaken to be made available for the purpose of the drainage plan proposed by the agency.

“It is directed that CBD or Wasa will not act upon any such proposal till the next date of hearing,” the order says.

The judge maintains that the inquiry committee shall be assisted in all manners by the CBD and any officer concerned deemed appropriate by the committee.

Separately, Justice Karim also formed a committee for the protection and the preservation of the old trees in Lahore.

The committee comprises officials of the forest department, the Parks and Horticulture Authority and the professors of the Agriculture University of Punjab.

Published in Dawn, Aug 2nd, 2023