Islamabad:
The Superior Court has granted guidelines to the Punjab government to establish a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) to treat contaminated water flowing to the Ravi River.
Although it is well established that the policy formulation is within the domain of the Executive, the Court, by exercising its constitutional duty to safeguard fundamental rights under article 9 of the Constitution, has developed, over the years, a Substantial knowledge base regarding environmental challenges. .
Therefore, without invading the prerogative of the Executive’s policy formulation, the Court considers appropriate to suggest certain options that executive authorities may consider by formulating their response to the challenge in question, that is, the delay of three decades in the WWTP configuration , says seven pages, a trial written by Judge Syed Mansoor Ali Shah.
The Bank clarified that these recommendations, although not binding, are destined to help the Executive to download their obligations towards environmental protection and sustainable development.
The order says that the land that measures 6,937 kanals was acquired by the Water and Sanitation Authority (WASA), an agency of the Lahore Development Authority (LDA), in three locations of Tehsil and District Lahore – Babu Sabu, Jhuggian Nagra and Niaz Begh -In 1991-1992 through two awards dated 24.12.1991 and 23.02.1992.
The Earth was acquired with the public purpose of establishing a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) to treat contaminated wastewater flowing to the Ravi River.
The order also said that initially, the WWTP should be funded by the World Bank, but the negotiations did not materialize, and almost three decades have passed without any progress in the field. The secretary of WASA MD and Housing and Urban Development Punjab states that new loan negotiations are now being carried out with the French Development Agency (AFD). In this regard, it is stated that the PC-11 form is being presented for approval before the Provincial Development Labor (PDWP), the Central Development Labor (CDWP) and the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (” ECNEC “) – Organized key responsible for economic planning, the development of infrastructure and investments of the public sector.
“It is also stated that ECNEC approval is expected at the end of August 2025 and, if awarded, loan negotiations with AFD will begin in February 2026,” says the order.
Judge Shah, when giving suggestions, has indicated that access to climatic finances is essential to guarantee climate adaptation and resilience, particularly in vulnerable regions such as Pakistan, where environmental degradation directly affects fundamental rights such as life, health, health and dignity. In this context, climatic financing arises as a viable and self -sufficient alternative that not only aligns with environmental responsibility and financial sustainability, but also defends fundamental rights under the Constitution.
Islamic financial principles, particularly those that emphasize risk investment and ethical investment, offer a debt -based approach to finance critical infrastructure. WASA may consider taking advantage of WAQF (endowments), Sukuk (Islamic bonds) and public-private associations rooted in Islamic finances. For example, a green sukuk, a financial instrument compatible with Shariah, can be issued to raise funds specifically for the water treatment plant, attracting investors seeking financial yields and environmental impact.
Islamic financing has changed the game in climate action, which offers ethical and sustainable financial solutions for the global south. Indonesia successfully launched a green sukuk in 2018, raising $ 1.25 billion to finance renewable energy projects and climatic resilients, demonstrating that Islamic financial instruments can effectively mobilize resources for environmental sustainability.
The sustainable and responsible investment of Malaysia (SRI) Sukuk, has financed water conservation initiatives, waste management and solar energy. By integrating Islamic finances into climatic strategies, particularly in Muslim majority countries and vulnerable to climate as Pakistan, there is a significant potential to mobilize resources and improve the impact of global climatic initiatives.
The order also said that WASA can explore a variety of CDNP technologies, including profitable technological solutions and its own harvest to urgently provide sustainable water management for Pakistan people.
“In addition, the restriction when using 6,937 kanals of land acquired exclusively for WWTP , renewable energy.
Plan (2023-2030) that prioritizes adaptation efforts and identifies several key sectors, such as water safety, agriculture and food security, disaster risk reduction, health, urban planning and infrastructure, ecosystems and biodiversity and energy.
“Our institutions must promote national adaptation strategies through indigenous financial tools and house cultivation solutions that are aligned with the sustainability, community welfare and long -term economic stability,” the order said.
“Taking into account the importance of WWTP and its relationship with the fundamental rights of people, WASA may want to reconsider their financial and technological options while pursuing their negotiations with AFD.”
“Let the PDWP through its president, president of Punjab Planning and Development, Civil Secretariat Lahore, CDWP through its president, Planning Commission of the Vice President, Secretariat of Pakistan, Constitution Avenida Islamabad and Ecnec, Cabinet Block, Cabinet Secretariat, Islamabad Red Zone concludes the most recent matter by the end of August 2025. ECNEC is ordered to send its final report to the court before the next audience date that is sent to PDWP, CDWP and ECNEC to obtain information And additional action, “read the order.
The Court will resume the hearing last week of September 2025 to assess whether the relevant authorities have successfully completed the matter after exploring all possible financial and technological alternatives.
