SC Orders Shutdown of Three Polluting KP Stone Crushers

News Desk 

Islamabad: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has ordered the closure of three stone crushing plants in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa due to severe air pollution. 

This decision follows a 17-page written order issued on July 11 by Justice Mansoor Ali Shah.

The order highlights alarming statistics from the World Health Organization (WHO), noting that one in every nine deaths worldwide is attributed to air pollution, which causes approximately 7 million deaths annually. 

The Apex Court pointed out that Bangladesh, India, Nepal, and Pakistan are among the most polluted countries globally, with these nations comprising 22.9 percent of the world’s population.

The court emphasized that living in a clean and transparent environment is a fundamental constitutional right. 

It noted that environmental pollution poses risks not only to humans but also to animals and plants, contributing to serious health issues like cancer and fatal heart diseases.

The Supreme Court’s order specifically targets three stone crushing plants in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa that have been identified as major contributors to environmental pollution.

It has mandated their immediate closure and instructed the Provincial Environmental Protection Agency (PEPE) to review the environmental impact of the remaining 900 stone crushing plants in the region.

Furthermore, the court has directed both federal and provincial governments to revise air pollution regulations and provide a progress report. The case will be revisited in the first week of November. 

This action comes in response to complaints from residents of Suraj Gali Khanpur about the negative effects of the stone crushing plants on their environment.

Additional Input from Daily Jang.