HARIPUR: The Supreme Court of Pakistan has ordered the immediate shutdown of three stone-crushing plants in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) for causing significant environmental pollution. The directive was issued in a written order on July 11, following a court hearing on the matter.
The 17-page order, written by Justice Mansoor Ali Shah, comes as a relief to residents of Suraj Gali, who had approached the court to address the pollution caused by the stone-crushing plants.
According to Express Tribune, a report submitted to the court, the three stone crushers in question are responsible for severe environmental pollution, necessitating their immediate closure. However, the issue extends far beyond these three plants, with over 900 stone-crushing plants operating in the province. The Provincial Environmental Protection Agency has been tasked with reviewing these plants and taking action against those that fail to comply with pollution-related rules.
The Supreme Court has also directed the federal and provincial governments to update and renew air pollution regulations and requested progress reports from both governments. A further hearing of the case is scheduled for the first week of November.
Air pollution is a major environmental concern, responsible for 7 million deaths annually, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Pakistan, along with Bangladesh, India, and Nepal, is among the most affected countries, with these four nations home to 22.9% of the world’s total population.