The Lahore High Court Multan Bench issued an order on 20 October to implement measures protecting honeybees and wild pollinators. Advocate Altamush Saeed initiated the legal action by filing a petition that detailed the various threats facing these essential pollinators.
The petition invoked Article 9A of the Constitution, which ensures the right to a clean, healthy, and sustainable environment. In South Punjab, the court's directive shields pollinators from habitat destruction, the felling of trees, and the application of harmful pesticides.
No mature tree or orchard in District Multan may be removed for development projects without obtaining environmental approval and permission from the Multan Development Authority. Authorities are required to release a pesticide advisory that is safe for bees before the next flowering season begins.
Government departments must now provide comprehensive reports covering pesticide enforcement, habitat protection, native flowering trees, and environmental assessments of development works. These reports must specify concrete actions taken by officials instead of offering general policy statements or promises.
