Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that the government would move the Supreme Court after the Lahore High Court nullified the Ravi Urban Development project.
Speaking to journalists during his visit to Rakh Jhok forest near Sheikhupura on Friday, he said this time, the case would be presented in a better manner to apprise the court about the significance of the project in view of urban development and civic facilities.
The PM said there was a misconception about the project that it was a housing society. Instead, he said, the grand project aimed at correcting the faults in the wake of unplanned construction of the city.
The Lahore High Court on Tuesday declared the Ravi Urban project illegal while announcing a verdict on the petitions against the project.
The court also declared Section 4 of the Ravi Urban Development Authority (amendment) Ordinance 2021 unlawful and unconstitutional.
The section is contradictory to Article 144 of the Constitution of Pakistan, it said.
Meanwhile, highlighting the salient features of the project, he said it included plantation of 20 million trees as part of forestation, construction of barrages to up water table, and filtration of sewerage.
He said the $20-billion project would provide employment and encourage foreign investment, adding that already Rs1.5 billion had been received in this regard.
PM Imran said wealth creation would help run 40 affiliated industries.
“We need to set up new cities in view of the growing population, otherwise we will not be able to provide civic facilities to people,” he said.
He mentioned that Lahore in near future could face similar civic problems like Karachi as a result of unplanned urban development.
He regretted that the Sindh government did not allow construction at Bundal Island which was also a megaproject in line with the planned development of cities.
