MULTAN - Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Qasim Khan Thursday said that the onus of provision of a pollution “free environment for generations to come lies with us” and no individual could be allowed to pollute natural atmosphere.
Addressing a meeting of LHC Multan bench, the chief justice said that cutting down trees for building housing colonies should be checked and the action should be initiated against the builders involved in this activity. He noted that the City of Saints is known for its mangoes across the world adding that more trees of king of Fruits should be planted in Multan.
LHC Multan bench judges Justice Chaudhary Muhammad Iqbal, Justice Shahid Bilal Hassan, Commissioner Multan Javed Akhter Mahmood and DC Aamir Khattak attended the meeting. The CJ ordered plant sapling in Shah Shams Park on 46-Kanal piece of land allocated by Auqaf department. He directed to restore Bibi Pak Daman tomb in its original form besides of family restaurant located at Damdama of Qasim Fort. He ordered Auqaf dept to devise a plan for maintenance of the mausoleums of saints at the fort adding that MWMC should prepare a strategy for better cleanliness arrangements in the city. MDA should expedite the work on the entry and exit gates of the city and WASA should disconnect illegally water supply connections. The CJ said and added that operation against encroachments should be continued. He reviewed the implementation of his orders given during his last visit to the city.
Trees cutting for building housing colonies should be checked
Briefing the CJ, Commissioner Javed Akhter Mahmood informed that 150,000 saplings were planted in public hospitals and schools in addition to plantation of 2,000 trees on widened roads of the city.
He stated that a sum of Rs8.7 millions was being spent on restoration of Madni Park. The DC also apprised the meeting about the steps taken by district administration on cleanliness of the city and shifting of markets outside the city for smooth flow of traffic. Officials of the district administration, local govt, PHA, MWMC and other departments also attended the meeting.The city of saints Multan is known all-over the world for its mango trees. Mango trees should also be planted in Multan city, he said. He ordered for plantation of trees at 46-kanal piece of land, given by the Auqaf Department to Shah Shams Park. The Forest Department should plant trees on maximum area, he added.
Chief Justice Muhammad Qasim Khan said that a family restaurant should be set up at Damdama. He ordered that the shrine of Bibi Pak Daman should be restored to its original condition, work on projects for protection of historical heritage of Multan should be expedited, developing a repair plan of shrines at Qasim Bagh to further improve the city's sanitation. He ordered for completing MDA's internal gates as soon as possible, and expediting an operation to disconnect illegal water supply connections in the City.
Commissioner Javed Akhtar Mehmood also briefed the LHC CJ and said that 150,000 saplings had been planted in the government schools and hospitals of Multan division. Two thousand ready trees have been planted on the highways and Rs87 lakh is being spent on rehabilitation of Madani Park.
Deputy Commissioner Aamir Khattak said that brick-kilns in the district were being shifted to the zigzag technology, and the plants causing pollution and smog had been shut down. The waste management company briefed the CJ that it had increased its daily waste removal capacity from 50pc to 70pc. A squad of 50 workers had been formed to clean the city roads and new areas in the city. Recruitment of new workers and purchase of machinery for the company was under way, he added. He said a plan was being made to shift the markets out of the city to solve traffic problems.
Registrar Malik Mushtaq Ahmed Ojla, Registrar Javed Iqbal Malik and Senior Registrar Muhammad Yar Walana, District Administration Wasa, PHA, MWMC, MDA and local government officials were also present.
