Islamabad: The Supreme Court (SC) on Tuesday issued the verdict directing the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to ‘adapt climate resiliency and sustainability into their town planning and policies’, according to news published on July 6.
The SC ruling came from a bench – which included Justice Shah and Justice Aminuddin – presiding over an appeal against the Islamabad High Court’s rejection of a plea on February 16, 2021, regarding the non-conforming use of residential properties in Sector G-9/4.
The official verdict stated that time is high for urban planners to prioritise the climate factor in their development approaches to counteract the triple threat of climate change, biodiversity loss and air pollution. The court observed that these existential threats, climate resilience and sustainability have become ‘constitutional obligation’.
The case addressed the CDA’s board of directors’ decision on February 13, 1995, to commercialize residential properties located in front of the Industrial and Trading Centre in Sector G-9/4. The board later realized that its decision violates Islamabad’s master plan and reverted its decision in October 1995. The owners of non-conforming properties were also sent notices, which they challenged in IHC.
The apex court upheld IHC’s rejection of the plea and directed the judgement to the CDA Chairman for compliance. The judgement maintained that ‘climate change could impair the quality of life of a person, offend his dignity and deprive him of his property or the right to fully enjoy his property’.
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