LAHORE: Justice Shahid Karim of the Lahore High Court on Monday observed that felling an old banyan tree outside a bakery in the Cantonment area is a “very unjust act,” seeking a detailed report on the issue.
“It is beyond understanding who could order to cut an old tree,” the judge regretted and directed a federal law officer to submit a detailed report on the matter.
While hearing petitions pertaining to environmental issues, the judge ordered Deputy Attorney General Asad Ali Bajwa to ensure implementation of the ban on tree felling in the areas falling under the jurisdiction of Cantonment and Walton boards as well. At the outset, Advocate Chaudhry Zulfiqar, a member of a judicial commission, told the court that the Road Transportation Authority (RTA) had issued letters to the environment department and the traffic police to start inspection of vehicles.
He pointed out that there was no mechanism for the surveillance of the vehicles after 11pm.
He said heavy traffic movement increases significantly after 11pm, contributing greatly to pollution. The city lacks a proper monitoring system for the heavy traffic, he regretted.
A counsel for the environment department informed the court that 46 checkpoints had been set up across Punjab and teams had been formed to take action against smoke-emitting vehicles.
He said vehicle inspections at Thokar Niaz Beg, where traffic enters the motorway, would begin immediately.
The judge directed the judicial commission members to inspect all points to ensure an effective monitoring of anti-smog actions.
Justice Karim remarked that the government and its departments woke up every October, repeat the old statements and then go silent. “If work had started in February or March, the public would not have been suffering due to smog to this extent today,” he added.
Justice Karim said the environmental issues could not be solved within a month, as it required a permanent and sustainable planning.
He further noted, “Revenue cannot be generated by violating the law. Earning money at the expense of destroying parks’ natural environment is illegal.”
PADDLE COURTS: Justice Karim took exception to the construction of a paddle court and a restaurant in a public park in Ghalib Market, Gulberg, by the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA).
A counsel for the PHA tried to defend the authority’s actions, saying it needs to generate revenue. However, the judge rejected the argument, maintaining that parks could not be utilised as a source of income in violation of the law.
Advocate Azhar Siddique, a counsel in a public interest petition, said the PHA mandate is only to maintain the parks, not generate revenue. He said that such activities in the public parks constitutes a criminal offence.
Justice Karim expressed his disdain for paddle courts in the public parks.
Justice Karim reminded the PHA’s lawyer that the court had already issued rulings against restaurants in the public parks.
The judge also expressed his anger over installation of digital advertising boards, declaring them a source of traffic obstruction.
The judge would resume hearing on Nov 12.
Published in Dawn, November 11th, 2025