ISLAMABAD: A cooperative housing society has moved the Lahore High Court Rawalpindi Bench seeking immediate action against the continued operation of polluting brick kilns in its surrounding areas, alleging grave threats to public health and the environment due to prolonged official inaction.
The constitutional petition was filed under Article 199 by the society through its elected secretary Mazhar Hussain. The respondents include the Director Environment of the Punjab Environmental Protection Department, the deputy commissioners of Attock and Rawalpindi and the Punjab government.
The petitioner society, located on Fatehjang Road and comprising nearly 8,000 members, stated that residents have been continuously exposed to hazardous air pollution caused by multiple brick kilns operating close to residential zones. The petition claims the emissions have severely affected the quality of life in the area.
According to the petition, the brick kilns are using obsolete and prohibited technologies that emit toxic smoke, particulate matter and harmful gases. These emissions pose serious health risks, particularly to children, women and elderly residents, and threaten overall environmental safety.
The society invoked Article 9 and Article 9A of the Constitution, arguing that the fundamental right to life includes the right to a clean, healthy and pollution free environment. It also referred to the 26th Constitutional Amendment and established constitutional jurisprudence recognising environmental protection as a basic human right.
The petition highlighted that superior courts have repeatedly ordered the closure or conversion of brick kilns operating on outdated Bull Trench Kiln technology, directing their transition to zigzag technology as recommended by the Smog Commission. Despite these binding directives and obligations under the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act 1997, the kilns allegedly continue to operate illegally.
The society informed the court that formal complaints were submitted to the environmental authorities in April and November 2025, but no inspections or enforcement actions followed. Terming this inaction a violation of fundamental rights, the petition seeks immediate inspections, strict action against non compliant kilns, closure of illegal operations in Attock and Rawalpindi, and enforcement of environmental laws. The matter is expected to be taken up for hearing soon.
