The Supreme Court of Pakistan has ordered the government of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) to finalize and implement regulations to crush stone in a month, rejecting its three-month extension request.
A constitutional bench of five members, led by Judge Amicin Khan, heard the case on Monday. The procedure focused on the environmental impact of overwhelming stone operations and their proximity to residential areas, Express News reported.
During the hearing, the additional defender general of the KP (AAG) informed the Court that the province had 903 stone grinding factories, of which 544 operational, 230 are under construction and 37 were issued to notes of justification.
In addition, 210 plants were sealed for violation of regulations.
Justice Jamal Mandokhail questioned the global application of laws, pointing out: “The Constitution is not followed here, and you are talking about rules”. He stressed the importance not only to set rules, but also to ensure their effective implementation.
Judge Hashim Khan Kakar has investigated the legal framework governing the overwhelming stone operations.
The AAG replied that the previous regulations prohibited the establishment of stone crushers less than a kilometer from the populated areas, but a revised law now allows their establishment at a minimum of 500 meters in urban areas and 300 meters in rural regions.
Environmental concerns were also raised during the hearing. Waqar Zakariya, a member of the Commission, stressed that wind models could transport dust particles from stone brewers in residential areas, which makes restrictions at a distance.
He suggested that dust removal measures, such as tree plantations and irrigation systems, should be mandated for crusher operators.
The KP government asked three months to finalize the rules, but the court refused the request, granting one month. Judge Kakar asked: “People should continue to suffer during this period?” He noted that public health and environmental security should have priority.
Meanwhile, lawyer Khawaja Haris, representing the stone crushing industry, argued that an unanswered call against the previous decision of the Supreme Court should be examined before the new regulations are applied. However, judge Mandokhail wondered if the appeal applied retroactively or only after the 26th constitutional amendment.
The court concluded by ordering the KP government to request the approval of its National Council rules in a month. The case was adjourned for a more in -depth examination after the deadline.
