Chief Minister of Punjab Faces Opposition to Yellow Line Metro Train
The proposed project has raised concerns among environmental experts and civil society organizations, who argue that it would cause irreversible damage to the city's ecosystem and violate environmental and cultural norms, and the government is being urged to consider alternative solutions that prioritize sustainability and conservation.
A coalition of environmental experts, civil society organizations, and citizen groups has opposed the proposed Yellow Line Metro Train project in Lahore, citing concerns over its environmental and economic viability, and has sent a letter to Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
The alliance, which includes prominent organizations such as the World Wide Fund for Nature, Institute of Architects Pakistan, and Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, argues that the project would have negative impacts on the city's ecosystem and would not provide a viable solution to Lahore's transportation problems. The signatories claim that the project contravenes Supreme Court orders and international conventions, including UNESCO's World Heritage Convention.
One of the major concerns raised by the coalition is the removal of 1,400 mature trees along the Canal Road, which would cause irreversible damage to the city's environment and violate environmental and cultural norms. The coalition has also highlighted issues such as lack of public consultation and absence of environmental impact assessment. In a separate development, the National Engineering Services of Pakistan (NESPAK) has completed geo-tagging of trees along a 22.5km stretch of the Lahore Canal, which will enable localized environmental analysis and real-time monitoring.
The coalition has urged the government to consider sustainable transport solutions and redirect resources towards critical public services like clean water supply, healthcare, and education. The opposition to the Yellow Line Metro Train project has sparked a debate over the city's transportation needs and the importance of environmental conservation, with the Chief Minister of Punjab faced with the task of balancing the city's development with its environmental and cultural heritage.