In this video, Justice Ayesha A. Malik explains a key judgment by Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah in Raja Zahoor Ahmed v. CDA (2022 SCMR 1411). The case highlights how the Supreme Court supports climate-resilient urban planning in Pakistan.
Justice Malik shares that the Court emphasized the need to protect the environment during city development. In particular, the ruling focused on planning in Islamabad. The Court linked poor urban planning to violations of basic rights. These include the rights to life, dignity, freedom of trade, and property, under Articles 9, 14, 18, and 23 of the Constitution.
Moreover, the judgment connects urban planning with climate change. It stresses that cities must be designed to handle future environmental risks. This is an important shift in how the law views climate resilience.
Justice Malik notes that the ruling pushes Pakistan toward climate adaptation in both legal and planning systems. As a result, it encourages policymakers and planners to think long term and act responsibly.
Overall, this video shows how the judiciary is taking a leading role in climate issues. By linking the environment to human rights, the Court is setting a new direction for sustainable development in Pakistan.
