The Pakistan Supreme Court has addressed the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government that ends and implements regulations for stone crushing within a month, rejecting its request for an extension of three months.
A Constitutional Bank of five members, led by Judge Aminuddin Khan, heard the case on Monday. The procedures focused on the environmental impact of stone crushing operations and their proximity to residential areas, said Express News.
During the hearing, the additional general defender of KP (AAG) informed the court that the province has 903 stone crushing plants, of which 544 are operational, 230 are under construction and 37 have issued notices of cause of exhibition.
In addition, 210 plants were sealed to violate the regulations.
Judge Jamal Commandkhail questioned the general application of the laws, commenting: “The Constitution does not follow here, and you are talking about rules.” He emphasized the importance not only of establishing rules but also to guarantee its effective implementation.
Judge Hashim Khan Kakar asked about the legal framework that governs stone crushing operations.
The AAG responded that the previous regulations prohibited establishing stone crushers within a kilometer of populated areas, but a law reviewed now allows its establishment at a minimum of 500 meters in urban areas and 300 meters in rural regions.
Environmental concerns were also raised during the audience. Waqar Zakariya, a member of the commission, said the wind patterns could transport dust particles of stone crushers to residential areas, which makes distance restrictions ineffective.
He suggested that dust suppression measures, such as tree plantations and irrigation systems, should be mandatory for crushing operators.
The KP government requested three months to finish the rules, but the court rejected the application, granting only one month. Judge Kakar asked: “Should people continue to suffer during this time?” He pointed out that public health and environmental security must have priority.
Meanwhile, the lawyer Khawaja Haris, which represents the stone crushing industry, argued that a pending appeal against the previous ruling of the Supreme Court should be considered before applying new regulations. However, Judge Commandkhail questioned whether the appeal was applied retroactively or only after the 26th constitutional amendment.
The Court concluded by ordering the KP government to seek the approval of its rules of the National Environmental Council within a month. The case was postponed for additional review after the deadline.
