Anti-pollution steps: LHC bars bikes’ provision to students

LAHORE: Lahore High Court (LHC) judge Justice Shahid Karim, in a five-page written decision in a case of curbing environmental pollution, ordered on Thursday stopping provision of proposed 23,000 motorcycles to students.

As many as 19,000 petrol bikes are included in the scheme. There are concerns regarding negative effects on the environment through distribution of a large number of motorcycles, remarked the court adding that “the measure severely affects the right to life, enshrined in Article 9 of the Constitution”.

The decision said the Punjab government should obtain approval from the Environment Department before implementing the scheme.

After approval from the Environment Department, work on the scheme might be resumed. Until the approval, the scheme should be kept pending, and no further steps should be taken by the Transport and Mass Transit Department regarding the scheme.