Environmental NOC must for bike scheme: LHC

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) has mandated that an environmental no objection certificate (NOC) was obligatory for bike scheme for students.

The decision was handed down by Justice Shahid Kareem during a hearing on Friday pertaining to the eradication of smog filed by Haroon Farooq and others.

During the proceedings, the court emphasised that it was a criminal offence to proceed projects without acquiring the necessary environmental clearances, specifically referencing a Punjab government initiative aimed at distributing bikes to students. Justice Shahid Karim underscored the severity of the environmental pollution crisis asserting that it could not be ignored and immediate action was needed. The court ordered the operationalisation of public parks stressing the need for their functionality and safety. It was also decreed that fines must be imposed for any negligence in this regard.

The court also directed the submission of a detailed report on the operational status of seven sports complexes under the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) along with a report on deforestation. The Punjab government was instructed to furnish the comprehensive report on the status of the bike scheme for students by May 27.