Notices issued in environment case

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court on Monday issued notices to the Punjab government for not implementing Punjab Environmental Protection Agency Act in letter and spirit and sought personal appearance of secretary environment as well as DG environmental protection agency.

A lung cancer patient Sheikh Noman Salahuddin filed the petition through Sheraz Zaka Advocate, pleading that Lahore, Faisalabad and Gujranwala were becoming the most polluted cities in the world as industrial units had been illegally established in residential areas. He pointed out that Punjab environmental protection agency had failed to take action against the illegally set up industrial units.

After hearing preliminary arguments, Justice Jawad Hassan directed the secretary environment and DG Punjab environmental protection agency to appear in person and submit record regarding action taken against the industrial units established in residential areas of Lahore and Gujranwala on May 21. The court observed that the state has failed to implement its clean and green Pakistan initiative and also failed to enforce fundamental rights of citizens against the environmental hazards.