Construction alongside national highways: LHC restrains NHA from issuing NOCs

The Lahore High Court (LHC) here on Tuesday restrained National Highway Authority (NHA) from allowing fresh NOCs for the construction of any structure alongside the national highways and sought reply within fortnight. The court passed these orders in a petition of Arif Karim advocate challenging alleged illegal structures raised alongside the national highways under the garb of desirability of facilities on the highways.
The petitioner contended that national highways safety ordinance 2000 made it obligatory for the NH&MP to examine desirability of facilities along the national highways and flow of traffic. He said the respondent authorities were not performing their responsibility in accordance with law, and so many illegal constructions had been in full swing in violation of the law. Karim said the purpose of construction of highways was not for the construction of shopping centres, housing societies.
Petitioner pointed out that Lahore, Gujranwala bound road had been under construction nowadays where gross criminal negligence and violation of the laws was being committed. Many buildings were under construction there in violation of the rules and regulations on the brink of this road, he added. Petitioner also pointed out irregularities committed by the respondents at Babu Sabu interchange and Chowk Yateem Khana, Gujranwala City by-pass and others.