A six-member constitutional bench of the Supreme Court, led by Justice Aminuddin Khan, has instructed provincial governments to submit detailed reports on their climate change initiatives.
The bench, which includes Justices Jamal Mandokhail, Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Hassan Azhar Rizvi, Naeem Akhtar Afghan, and Musarrat Hilali, held its first hearing on environmental pollution on Thursday, focusing on a wide range of environmental issues.
Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar highlighted the environmental consequences of the rapid expansion of housing societies, while Justice Musarrat Hilali referenced a previous letter from Justice Nasim Hasan Shah, expressing concerns over Islamabad’s industrial growth. Justice Jamal Mandokhail emphasized the national scope of pollution and pointed to vehicular emissions as a major contributor, questioning the effectiveness of current measures to combat it.
The Supreme Court has directed both federal and provincial governments to provide comprehensive reports on their efforts to control pollution.
Following a request by the Additional Attorney General, the court adjourned the hearing for three weeks, with reports on anti-pollution strategies due at that time. Justice Mandokhail noted the severity of visible pollution impacts, such as dense smog in Punjab, which points to a pressing need for enhanced environmental protections.
