LHC orders elimination of illegal parking lots

Lahore High Court's (LHC) Justice Shahid Karim directed the authorities concerned to eliminate illegal parking stands across the city and seal restaurants operating without proper parking arrangements.

Justice Karim was hearing various petitions addressing smog control, creating a pollution-free society, and safeguarding ground-water from wastage.

During the proceedings, Justice Karim observed that the LDA (Lahore Development Authority) should develop rules regarding the elimination of parking on service roads.

The judge sought a compliance report from the relevant authorities by the next date.

In earlier proceedings, Justice Karim had also signaled the imposition of a Rs5,000 fine on motorcyclists who fail to wear helmets. He directed traffic officials to make earnest efforts to establish rules regarding helmet usage. The judge proposed imposing heavy fines of Rs5,000 on violators, believing that such measures would encourage people to comply. However, he also advised a comprehensive awareness campaign for the first ten days before imposing fines.

The court had previously imposed a ban on cutting trees in Lahore city and educational institutions. It emphasised the need for legislation declaring tree-cutting a serious offense and restrained the environment department from issuing NOCs for projects that cause tree loss.

Justice Karim remarked that FIR registration alone is insufficient to halt stubble burning.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 22^nd, 2023.