Pakistan Environmental Law Association (PELA) is working on a comprehensive plan to ensure effective application of environmental laws in Pakistan, besides concentrating on education, training and environmental litigation.
Jawad Hassan, Secretary and Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Vice President, PELA stated this while briefing the media men about the first annual seminar on 'Green Justice through public Litigation' to be held at Punjab University on March 13 under the aegis of the Association.
Raza Farooq Advocate, Sardar Asif Sial Advocate and Shahid Karim Advocate were also present.
The PELA representatives said one of the main features of this seminar is conferring of PELA Lifetime Achievement Award on Justice Saleem Akhtar (Retd) in recognition of his services regarding environmental protection and sustainable development through his monumental judgement in Shelah Zia vs Wapda, delivered by him 10 years ago.
MC Mehta, a distinguished guest from India will speak about Saleem's pioneering role in the public interest in litigation in his country. Lawyers from all the provinces of the country will also participate in the seminar, they added.
About PELA, they said it was registered in 1999 in Karachi and since then has been working to forward the agenda of environment- related issues through courts. It is also educating the judiciary on environmental laws introduced in the country in 1997, they added.
They observed it was unfortunate that there was lack of awareness among the public about the environmental laws. However, they pointed out, after the 1997 law both government and higher judiciary were supporting the efforts of lawyers working for protection of environment.
Speaking on the occasion, Raza Farooq Advocate said there was a need to create awareness among the general public about the pollution and other environment related issues.
"We are also concentrating on imparting training to students interested in such issues," he said.
Sardar Asif Sial said they were contesting the cases pertaining to environment free of cost with the spirit to serve the nation as well as country.