Lawyers urged to educate masses on environment

Staff Report

LAHORE: Lawyers should educate the common man about environmental problems and push the general public to create a pollution free atmosphere, said Syed Zameer Hussain Shah, chairperson of EPT Punjab.

Shah was chief guest at a seminar titled ‘Orientation of lawyers on environment and public interest litigation’ was held by the Environment Protection Tribunal in collaboration with the Environmental Protection Department, Echo Watch and IUCN at Avari Hotel on Wednesday.

Speaking on the occasion, Humma Ikramullah, coordinator of the IUNCP law programme, said that the IUNC would work on environmental projects with Eco Watch.

Brig (r) Reaz Bashir, former environment secretary, underlined the need for Environment Impact Assessment reports with all development projects. He said that NGOs should play a strong role in this regard.

Mansoor Akhtar Kaukab, member of the Legal Environment Protection Tribunal, said that in September 2003, only five cases were registered with the tribunal. “Now there are 150 cases, and a large number has been disposed of.” He said that Eco Watch had filed 20 cases.

Imran Ahmed Bhatti, general secretary of the EcoWatch Trust, and Ahmed Awais, former president of the Lahore High Court Bar Association, also spoke on the occasion.

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