Glacier ice cutting banned in Upper Dir as per PHC orders

PESHAWAR: Following the Peshawar High Court’s orders, the district administration of Upper Dir has imposed Section 144 to ban the cutting of glacier ice and its transportation for commercial purposes.

During a previous hearing, the PHC had directed the deputy commissioner of Upper Dir to stop the cutting and transport of glacier ice, as it was causing environmental issues. The case was heard by a two-member bench comprising Justice Ijaz Anwar and Justice Inamullah Marwat.

During the hearing, petitioner Tariq Afghan advocate informed the court that glacier ice in Upper Dir was being cut and then supplied to various locations for commercial use. In response, Assistant Commissioner Sohail Ahmad Shah had assured the court that the court’s orders would be strictly implemented.

He had stated that Section 144 would be enforced to ban the cutting and transport of glacier ice.The DC officially imposed a ban on glacier cutting and the transport of ice blocks as in the PHC directives. It was stated that these actions were taken in compliance with the High Court’s order, which had instructed the district administration of Upper Dir to stop glacier cutting.