More room for billboards: SHC stalls tree cutting on Shahrae Faisal
The Sindh High Court has restrained the city government (now KMC) and cantonment board from chopping trees and cutting shrubs on Shahrae Faisal till the next hearing on January 12.
Justice Maqbool Baqar and Justice Imam Bux Baloch also issued notices to the officials of the civil and military departments so they can give their input.
A concerned citizen, Shakeel Ahmed, had filed a public interest petition, maintaining that the staff of the defunct city government and cantonment board was cutting the trees and chopping the shrubs on this main artery. It was damaging its beauty and environment.
The pruning was aimed at creating space for huge billboards and other commercial advertisements, the petitioner said, adding that only seven per cent of Karachi is green which should be a cause of concern for all stakeholders including those looking after the environment.
He named the secretary, ministry of defence, Karachi Cantonment Board’s executive officer, the secretary for local government and the city government in his petition. He appealed to the court to intervene and save the trees.
Published in The Express Tribune, December 23rd, 2011.
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