In a bid to conserve the remaining greenery in the province, Lahore High Court (LHC) has imposed Rs. 25,000 fine for cutting down a tree in Punjab.

Justice Jawad Hassan has issued detailed guidelines for all federal and provincial departments working in the province on how to manage, conserve, and grow forests/vegetation in urban areas.

In his 78-page judgment, Justice Hassan also made it mandatory for all housing authorities to plant at least two trees in front of every house they build.

The Secretary Cooperative and Registrar Cooperative are ordered to issue directions to the housing societies and authorities for planting at least two trees in the green belt in front of each house mentioning in their allotment letters and by-laws of the society.

The court has also made it mandatory to plant trees in the open space available in schools, colleges, universities, hospitals, parking areas of the public buildings, etc.

The court ruling was issued after various petitions asked for the implementation of the National Climate Change Policy 2012, the National Forest Policy 2015, the Punjab Plantation and Maintenance of Trees Act 1974 and the Forest Policy Statement, 1999. All of these policies aim to preserve, protect, and increase the green cover and plantation of trees in the country.

The high court has also directed the provincial government to make laws to impose hefty fines on cutting or damaging trees without permission.

It has also asked Punjab government to implement strict policies for non-compliers and introduce hefty fines.

The judgment has asked every concerned authority to prepare and publish an annual report highlighting their efforts for the protection and expansion of green cover in Punjab.