The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday expressed strong displeasure over the cutting of trees in the city and indicated that criminal cases may be registered against the concerned officers of the Parks and Horticulture Authority (PHA) for cutting trees near Doctors Hospital.
Justice Shahid Karim, while hearing petitions related to smog mitigation, summoned the relevant PHA officers for January 12 and directed immediate action against those found responsible.
During the proceedings, Advocate Azhar Siddique informed the court that trees located between the canal and the road in front of Doctors Hospital had been cut.
The court questioned Environmental Commission Member Syed Kamal Haider, who confirmed that he had visited the site and that the tree cutting had been carried out by the PHA.
Advocate Azhar Siddique also played a video of the tree cutting in the courtroom. After viewing the footage, Justice Shahid Karim ordered an immediate investigation and remarked that a criminal case would be registered against whoever was found responsible.
The court directed that the matter be conveyed to the Director General PHA, adding that the authority should have prevented the tree cutting instead of initiating it.
The court also expressed concern over the establishment of service stations in residential areas. Justice Shahid Karim directed the imposition of heavy fines on illegal service stations, ordered the creation of a separate wastewater unit within the Environmental Department, and emphasized the need for both digital and physical monitoring.
The court further made it clear that no illegal construction should take place in Nasir Bagh.
Law officers of the Punjab government, along with representatives of the LDA, PHA, traffic police, and other departments, appeared before the court. The hearing was adjourned until January 12.