PM says govt to approach SC over Ravi Urban project after LHC nullifies it

• PM says case to be presented before court in a better manner.
• He says project will benefit many people and will create wealth.
• Lahore High Court had declared Ravi Urban project illegal this week.

SHEIKHUPURA: Prime Minister Imran Khan said Friday 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, the prime minister said this time, the case would be presented in a better manner to appraise 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 Ravi Urban 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 had declared the Ravi Riverfront Urban Development Project (RRUDP) 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 mentioned 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 that already Rs1.5 billion had been received in this regard.

PM Imran Khan 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.