LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has directed Nespak (National Engineering Services of Pakistan (Pvt) Limited) to furnish a feasibility report about the Punjab government’s proposed project to run Yellow Line Train on the Canal Road.

“The report would involve the environmental aspects of the entire project,” Justice Shahid Karim ordered Nespak in a written order issued about last week’s hearing.

The judge directed that no cutting of trees would be conceived by the feasibility report as tree felling had already been prohibited by the court in a number of orders passed previously.

The judge further instructed the Environment Protection Agency (EPA) to not consider the environment impact assessment (EIA) report of the transport project unless it had been prepared by an independent consultant having international standing.

In light of a report regarding violations by the brick kilns near Hiran Minar along M-2, the judge ordered immediate transfer of EPA Sheikhupura Director General Abdul Qayum to a far-flung area such as Rajanpur.

LHC orders transfer of Sheikhupura EPA DG to far-flung area Justice Karim directed the National Highway and Motorways Police (NH&MP) to report the violations by the brick kilns as it had been doing in respect of stubble burning.

The judge will resume the hearing on July 28.

During a previous hearing, a provincial law officer had told the court that the Yellow Line Train project remained under consideration so far but no physical work had started.

Published in Dawn, July 16th, 2025

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