The Lahore High Court has firmly directed the government to avoid cutting down trees while developing new infrastructure projects. Justice Shahid Karim, during a hearing on environmental issues, stated that the court does not oppose development, but it is deeply concerned about the protection of trees. He emphasized that every development plan must be created in a way that does not involve tree removal.
Earlier in the hearing, Punjab’s Advocate General Amjad Pervaiz submitted a report on behalf of the Punjab Transport and Mass Transit Authority. It revealed that the PC-1 for the proposed Yellow Line project on Canal Road has not yet been prepared. Responding to the court’s query, the provincial transport secretary mentioned that a feasibility study for the Canal Road mass transit project is still ongoing.
In addition, the Advocate General informed the court that the project is currently in the research phase. He added that NESPAK (National Engineering Services Pakistan) has already geo-tagged the trees in the proposed area and even developed a mobile application to assist in the tracking and protection process. This step aims to balance progress with environmental care.
Despite these measures, Justice Shahid Karim stressed that no development plan should be allowed to move forward at the cost of nature. He declared that only trees can help tackle global environmental crises like glacier melting, and therefore their protection must remain a top priority. The judge went on to say that cutting trees is almost equal to committing a sin, highlighting the moral importance of environmental conservation.
He further appreciated the government for taking several good initiatives but reminded the court that its sole focus remains ensuring the safety of trees. The judge made it clear that while development is important, it must not come at the cost of ecological harm. The court has postponed further proceedings until August 8 to allow more discussion on the matter.