Arguments concluded in Orange Line project case 

LAHORE

The Punjab government started Orange Line Train Project prior to the agreement with a Chinese bank which is exposing the government’s stance that the stay order on the project is causing loss of billions of rupees, the counsel for civil society stated while concluding his arguments before the Lahore High Court on Tuesday. 

The counsel submitted that the Punjab government is in habit of initiating costly projects before estimating whether the project is lawful or unlawful. In Orange line project, the Punjab government did the same as it started without proper planning and wasted billions from the national exchequer, the counsel argued.

A division bench headed by Justice Abid Aziz Sheih heard the case.

Previously, the federal government had completed its arguments on its application challenging stay order on the project, and had told the court the Orange line project is need of hour and is public welfare project. The court cannot interfere in policy matters of the government, the federal government stated. It further said that the stay orders on the project are causing loss of billions of rupees to the government.

On Monday, the counsel of civil society said that Environment Department Punjab had written in its NOC that the project should not be initiated unless and until the NOCs from all other departments concerned. He said but the Punjab government started the project without taking NOCs from the departments’ concerned. After hearing arguments of the petitioners’ counsel, the bench ordered the Advocate General Punjab to come up with arguments on the stay order by March 21.

On January 28, the LHC stayed construction of Orange line project within 200 feet of 11 historical sites of the city including GPO Chowk, Chauburji, Shalimar Gardens, SC Lahore Registry and others. The petitioners including Cecil and Iris Chaudhry foundation, Lahore Bachao Tehreek and members of the civil society also challenged the project.