Current Honorable Members of Judicial Water & Environment Commission Message
Ms. Hina Hafeezullah Ishaq
As a child, I was privileged to have been exposed to a way of life so different from our current urban lives. My ancestral home, from my father’s side, in Central Punjab, was served by a ‘Mashki’, who used to carry a huge ‘mashk’ or waterskin, filled with water, up numerous flights of stairs- to replenish the ‘hamams’. My mother’s family home, in Northern Punjab, was served by a ‘well’ in the courtyard, and a crystal clear stream outside - no running tap water. I remember the floods of East Pakistan, Gujranwala and elsewhere, during my father’s various postings- how livelihoods and homes were destroyed. When we moved to England, I saw the British washing dirty dishes in a sink full of soapy water- dried with a dishcloth, without rinsing. It should go without saying that water, and the environment, which we live in, is a ‘grace’ or ‘naymat’ granted to us by Allah- for which we are all accountable- but, as humans, we are reckless in our consumption of natural resources and we pollute the very environment which is essential to our survival. We, as individuals, shirk from taking responsibility, for our actions and inactions, and prefer to ‘pass the buck’. No one can deny the apathetic attitude of various State Organs, tasked with maintaining the quality of our environment and its resources, and ensuring protection of the Fundamental Right to Life of the citizens; but, the former’s apathy does not and should not, absolve us of our duty and positive contribution- for individually and collectively, we are all responsible for keeping the world in balance- the ‘Meezan’.
Mr. Syed Kamal Ali Haider
The Honorable Court of his Lordship Mr Justice Shahid Karim though judicial intervention has adopted a Practical approach by way of Continuing Mandamus by directing the Government of Punjab to take practical steps which have resulted in maintaining the Lahore aquifer for further depletion. This was surely an insurmountable task which required a mountain of dedication and passion and to tackle the water Crises which has been declared by the August Supreme Court of Pakistan in its Islamabad declaration of the year 2018 and also held the same in 2018 SCMR 2001.
The second Phase of the social action petition encompassed a majority of Environmental contraventions and curtailing the effects of Climate change along with traffic Congestion which were a cause of overall environmental degradation .By expanding the work of the Judicial Commission effective and pre-emptive measure have resulted in timely reducing the effects of “Smog” the Phenomena which is experienced. The order of the Honorable Court on imposition of fine on stubble burning, municipal waste burning, Banning polythene bags and multiple other actions have changed the landscapes. I would term orders and directions of the Honorable Court and the labor put in by the Judicial Commission throughout the years as divine intervention and true service to humanity. Much has been done yet tremendous effort is required till all measure taken by the Honorable Court and its Commission are adopted and legislated into enactments. Dissemination and awareness of all that has been achieved still lacks and is only apparent at a certain degree, it is now time for everyone to act in a selfless manner for the bigger cause of protecting the Envoirment and its resources for future generations to come.
Mr. Justice(Rtd.) Ali Akbar Qureshi
Former Chairman Judicial Water and Environment Commission
From 15-2-2019 to 13-1-2022
Mr. Justice(Rtd.) Ali Akbar Qureshi was appointed as Chairman of Judicial Water Commission, established by the Honorable Lahore High Court, Lahore, after my retirement, in January 2019. The basic tasks and aim of this Commission were to take forward the assignments and projects already introduced for preservation of water.
Message
Mr. Justice(Rtd.) Ali Akbar Qureshi was appointed as Chairman of Judicial Water Commission, established by the Honorable Lahore High Court, Lahore, after my retirement, in January 2019. The basic tasks and aim of this Commission were to take forward the assignments and projects already introduced for preservation of water.
Message
For us, the saving of water is part of our faith, as Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) has directed,
“Do not waste water even if performing ablution on the bank of a fast flowing river.” (Al Thirmidhi).
To say that there would be no life without water, is not something which has not been stated or preached before, however, it is immensely unfortunate that in an economically and socially burdened country like Pakistan, the pillars of the State have to adopt forceful measures to make people realize the importance of drinkable water.
It was not until a Public Interest Petition, which was fixed before me during the last year of my tenure as Judge of the Lahore High Court, Lahore, drew my attention towards this over- looked and criminally neglected situation regarding scarcity of water in Pakistan, that I registered how much effort is needed in this area if we want our next generations to remember us as saviors rather than abusers. While on the Bench, I laid my hands at this issue by introducing various idea for saving water, which included, construction of Ablution Water Tanks, introduction of Car Wash Recycling System, installation of Waste Water Treatment Plants, idea of Rain Water Harvesting, Cleaning of Lahore Branch Canal etc.
