The Lahore High Court (LHC) Rawalpindi bench on Monday disposed of a constitutional petition challenging the termination of a contract for Punjab’s electric bus procurement after the provincial government withdrew the disputed order.
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Justice Jawad Hassan passed the order while hearing the petition filed by a contracting company against the Punjab government and other relevant authorities. The petitioner had approached the court after authorities terminated a contract for the supply and operation of electric buses under a public transport project.
At the hearing, the Punjab government’s counsel informed the court that the competent authority had reviewed the matter and formally rescinded the termination notice. Official documents and correspondence were placed on record confirming the decision.
Justice Hassan noted that the petitioner’s primary grievance no longer existed and declared the petition infructuous. The court disposed of the case while leaving all legal questions open, in accordance with the law.
The petitioner had argued that the termination was unlawful, arbitrary, and violated the contract and principles of natural justice. It claimed to have fulfilled its contractual obligations and said the termination caused financial loss and damaged its business reputation. The company had sought a declaration of the termination’s illegality, restoration of the contract, and restraint on any coercive actions by authorities.
The contract is part of Punjab’s initiative to introduce electric buses for environmentally friendly and sustainable urban transport. The project aims to improve mobility while reducing carbon emissions through the use of electric vehicles. Earlier, the LHC had sought detailed responses from the provincial government and relevant departments to assess the legality of the termination.
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With the government’s reversal of the termination order, the court concluded the matter, paving the way for the continuation of the electric bus project without legal obstacles.