So the government has decided to be completely unforgiving in the pursuit to conserve the few but remaining trees in the province of Punjab and will take strong action against any who is seen to be cutting a tree in Punjab. Moreover, the Lahore High Court (LHC) has imposed a Rs. 25,000 fine for cutting down a tree in Punjab and according to them there will be no leniency on the subject. Moreover, Justice Jawad Hassan has issued detailed guidelines for all federal and provincial departments working in the province on how and what they can do to manage, conserve, and grow forests/vegetation in the urban areas of Pakistan, especially Punjab. In his 78-page judgment, Justice Hassan also made it mandatory for all housing authorities to plant at least two trees in front of every house they build.
The Secretary Cooperative and Registrar Cooperative are ordered to issue directions to the housing societies and authorities for planting at least two trees in the green belt in front of each house mentioning in their allotment letters and by-laws of the society.In addition to things the court has also made it compulsory to plant trees in the open space which can be found in schools, colleges, universities, hospitals, parking areas of the public buildings, etc.
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The newly dated Court ruling has been issued after various petitions asked for the implementation of the National Climate Change Policy 2012, the National Forest Policy 2015, the Punjab Plantation and Maintenance of Trees Act 1974 and the Forest Policy Statement, 1999. The aim of all such policies is very specific, it is to preserve, protect, and increase the green cover and plantation of trees in Pakistan and to whatever they can to limit the problem of climate change in the world. Moreover, the high court has also directed the provincial government to make laws to impose hefty fines on cutting or damaging trees without the relevant permissions. It has also asked Punjab government to implement strict policies for wrong doers in this regard and to impose them with heavy fines. The judgment has asked every concerned authority to prepare and publish an annual report highlighting their efforts for the protection and expansion of green cover in Punjab.
