LAHORE: The Lahore High Court issued a stay on implementing the Lahore Master Plan 2050, which has caused disappointment among property developers and realtors.
The court’s decision came in response to a petition filed by a citizen, Mian Abdur Rehman, which raised several concerns about the master plan.
The court issued notices to the Punjab government, chief secretary, and other relevant authorities, giving them two weeks to respond.
The Lahore Master Plan 2050, which Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi approved on December 21, has been controversial since its announcement.
The plan includes a project by the Ravi Urban Development Authority (RUDA), which has previously been criticized for taking over agricultural lands from farmers.
According to the petition, the master plan would lead to the deforestation of the area around the river Ravi, in contravention of a previous court order.
The petition argues that the Lahore High Court had previously ordered the government to protect agricultural lands and plant forests but that the new master plan would do the opposite.
The petitioner has urged the court to declare the master plan illegal.
The Additional Advocate General, Makhdoom Ali Tipu, opposed the petition, arguing that it should be thrown out.
However, Justice Shahid Karim, who was hearing the case, noted that some government projects contributed to climate challenges and posed a risk to the country’s economy.
He questioned how Pakistan’s rulers could ask for money at the International Conference on Climate Resilient Pakistan (Geneva Conference), where donors pledged over $10 billion to help Pakistan cope with climate change if they needed to take measures to protect the environment.
The court adjourned the case for two weeks, giving the government time to respond to the petition and present its argument.
The outcome of this case will likely have significant implications for the future development of Lahore and the surrounding areas.
