Submit water policy after CCI’s approval: LHC

LAHORE

Chief Justice of Lahore High Court Syed Mansoor Ali Shah Wednesday ordered for submission of water policy should be given after approval from Council of Common Interest (CCI). 

The government counsel said a unanimous water policy could not be evolved due to difference among all four provinces. He said now it would be put before the next CCI meeting. Chief Justice was hearing a petition filed by a farmer Asghar Leghari seeking implementation of ‘Framework for Implementation of National Climate Change Policy 2013’ to meet challenges of climate change. The petitioner counsel had submitted that two governments and the authorities concerned were not taking steps to develop the required resilience to climate change as per Framework for Implementation of National Climate Change Policy, 2013. He pointed out some serious threats to Pakistan as a consequence of climate change including considerable increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, coupled with erratic monsoon rains causing frequent and intense floods and droughts.

He said that the projected recession of the Hindu Kush-Karakoram-Himalayan (HKH) glaciers due to global warming and carbon soot deposits from trans-boundary pollution sources, threatening water inflows into the Indus River System (IRS); Increased siltation of major dams caused by more frequent and intense floods; Rising temperatures resulting in enhanced heat and water-stressed conditions, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions, leading to reduced agricultural productivity. He pointed out that decrease in the already scanty forest cover, from too rapid change in climatic conditions to allow natural migration of adversely affected plant species. He said that the increased intrusion of saline water in the Indus delta, adversely affecting coastal agriculture, mangroves and the breeding grounds of fish.

exam-age: A division bench of the Lahore High Court Wednesday reserved judgment on a petition challenging the education board ninth class exam-age restriction. 

A number of students had moved the petitions. Petitioners counsel Sheraz Zaka submitted that equal education is the fundamental right under Article 25 of the Constitution but unfortunately, education boards had made rules that children below the age of 12 were not eligible to get admission in 9th class.

He said the students who were below the age of 12 years were being deprived of their right to education, as the board was not allowing them to appear in 9th class exam. He argued that there was no provision in Punjab free and compulsory education act 2014, which imposes such condition. He submitted that it was discriminatory that in order to appear in ninth class exam a student has to be twelve years and this policy of board of intermediate is a violation of article 25A of Constitution. He submitted that in parallel O and A levels exams there was no age restriction policy. He said that this restriction was unjust and violation of the Constitution as no one could be deprived of getting education.