Islamabad: The Supreme Court has ordered the closure of stone crushing plants in Suraj Gali, Haripur, due to environmental pollution.
The Supreme Court issued a written order from the July 11 hearing, penned by Justice Mansoor Ali Shah.
The court’s decision highlighted that globally, one in nine deaths is caused by air pollution, according to WHO, which results in 7 million deaths annually.
The Supreme Court’s decision noted that Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan are among the most polluted countries in the world, with these countries accounting for 22.9% of the world’s population.
According to the Air Quality Report, Pakistan is the second most polluted country globally.
The court stated that living in a clean and transparent environment is a fundamental constitutional right of every citizen.
The decision further stated that environmental pollution poses risks to humans, animals, and trees, causing serious illnesses like cancer and heart diseases.
The court mentioned that, according to reports, three stone crushers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are causing severe environmental pollution and should be closed immediately.
Additionally, 900 stone crushing plants are operating in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The provincial Environmental Protection Agency should review these 900 plants and take independent action against those causing environmental pollution.
Action should also be taken against crushing plants violating pollution-related regulations.
The court ordered the federal and provincial governments to update the rules related to air pollution and requested a progress report.
The Supreme Court will continue the hearing in the first week of November. Residents of Suraj Gali, Khanpur, had filed a case against the stone crushing plants.