LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Friday halted the ongoing underground parking projects at Taxali and Sheranwala gates of the Walled City.

Justice Shahid Karim was hearing multiple petitions related to smog and other environmental issues.

The judge expressed his displeasure over the felling of trees at the Punjab University.

He summoned the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) director general and the advocate general of Punjab on the next hearing.

Justice Karim remarked that the PHA DG should have taken a suo motu notice of the tree-cutting at the university. He ordered an investigation into the matter by a superintendent of police. He hinted at referring the matter to the Anti-Corruption Establishment.

The judge also directed the PHA DG to hold meetings with the vice chancellors of all universities and ensure no tree is felled.

He also sought replies from the PU vice chancellor and registrar on show-cause notices issued over the cutting of trees.

The judge observed that there was no benefit of registering a case after cutting a tree.

A member of the judicial commission informed the court that old trees were being uprooted and transplanted from Sheranwala and Taxali gates for the construction of parking plazas.

Justice Karim ordered the authorities to halt the construction of the parking plazas till further orders.

The judge observed that the court had earlier directed the authorities to devise a tree transplantation policy, but the compliance was still awaited.

The judge adjourned further hearing till Feb 2.

FLOATING RESTAURANT: Justice Shahid Karim of the Lahore High Court on Friday issued notices to the Punjab government, the PHA and others on a petition challenging the construction of a floating restaurant on the city canal.Renowned architect Dr Ajaz Anwar along with others filed the petition through their counsel, Azhar Siddique, raising objections to the floating restaurant project.

The petitioners pointed out that the project to build a floating restaurant on the canal near Jallo Park has been initiated, which is not legally valid.

Relying on the Lahore Canal Heritage Park Act, 2013 and the Parks and Horticulture Authority Act, 2012, the petitioners said the city canal and its greenbelts from Jallo Park to Thokar Niaz Beg had been declared a “heritage park,” with a prohibition-first regime that bars construction, infrastructure development, land-breaking and any cutting or damaging of trees.

They sought formation of a joint team to review the proposal and asked the court to declare the project contrary to the law.

Published in Dawn, January 31st, 2026