LHC constitutes commission to save groundwater in Punjab

LAHORE: The Lahore High court (LHC) on Thursday constituted ‘Punjab Water Commission’ (PWC) to save the underground water in the province.

LHC’s Justice Shahid Kareem, in a written verdict, ordered to form the water commission headed by Justice(retd) Ali Akbar Qureshi and said the commission would work alike Sindh’s water commission.

Justice Kareem had remarked that the country could face a serious water scarcity by year 2025 and added that the court would protect fundamental human rights.

He directed the registrar to establish it secretariat in the premises of LHC immediately. Justice Shahid Kareem in his written judgment said that the water commission would work independently and all the public institutions would provide complete cooperation to the chairman PWC.

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The PWC would present its recommendations to save the underground water in the province.

Earlier on February 15, the lawyer of Punjab government argued before the court that the Water Act has already been in effect in the province adding that there was no need of the water commission.

Justice Shahid Karim of LHC asked the counsel “why the government is opposing formation of the water commission and rejected the provincial government’s plea against the commission?”

The court ordered the government to submit the first report of the water commission within 15 days.