LAHORE: The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday ordered the closure of a pond being used to supply water to a nearby cement factory in Chakwal district of Punjab.
The three-member bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Mian Saqib Nisar was hearing a suo motu case over the illegal use of water by two factories at the Lahore registry of the apex court.
CJP Nisar directed authorities to provide an estimate on the per cusec rate of water from ponds before it is sold off to factories.
“Water is a blessing of Allah, how can you sell natural water,” the CJP inquired from the Kallar Kahar pond owner Ghulam Sagheer. The water was being supplied to Bestway Cement.
The CJP asked why Sagheer’s property could not be seized and handed over to the government.
“I give zakat [charity] to widows from the money [obtained by selling water],” Sagheer replied.
Justice Umar Atta Bandial remarked that water as a natural resource cannot be sold for monetary profit. The environmental department has also been directed to submit a report on environmental pollution problems in the region.
CJP Nisar also remarked that he intends to take a notice against mineral water companies.
“[We] will have to see how the mineral water companies obtain their water and how much they pay for it,” he said.
“It is the government’s responsibility to provide clean water to the people,” he said in reference to Prime Minister Imran Khan talking about water crisis during his first address as premier.
