Environmental Laws And Policies In Pakistan: A Discussion

Abstract

This article discusses environmental laws and policies in Pakistan, emphasizing challenges like air pollution in cities such as Lahore, Quetta, and Karachi, primarily caused by vehicle emissions and industrial activities. It highlights the role of the Public Trust Doctrine (PTD) in environmental protection, which obligates the state to act as a trustee for natural resources and ensure their preservation for public use. The PTD has been increasingly applied in Pakistani courts, both implicitly and explicitly, to safeguard environmental rights, with landmark cases such as Shehla Zia and Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation establishing important legal precedents. These cases demonstrate the judiciary's proactive role in enforcing environmental laws and recognizing the right to a healthy environment as part of the right to life under the Constitution.