PESHAWAR — The Peshawar High Court (PHC) has taken up a petition challenging the construction of a coal power plant in Kohat, a district already struggling with pollution from a nearby cement factory.
The case, heard by Justice Syed Arshad Ali and Justice Waqar Ahmad, underscores a growing tension between industrial development and public health in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
During the hearing, the bench issued notices to the provincial government, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Health Department, and other respondents, seeking formal replies before the next date of hearing.
The petition, filed by advocate Ali Gohar Durani on behalf of local residents, argued that the planned coal power plant is being constructed “dangerously” close to populated areas in Kohat — at a distance of barely 200 meters from the Babri Banda locality, which already houses a cement factory.
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Concerns Over Pollution, Public Health
The petitioner contended that air and dust pollution from the cement factory has already degraded the local environment, contributing to respiratory illnesses and other health complications among residents. “Now, a coal power plant is being added to the same site, which will multiply pollution levels and further endanger human health,” Durani told the court.
He argued that Pakistan has signed several international agreements on climate change and environmental protection, which obligate the government to curb industrial emissions and adopt sustainable energy practices. The establishment of a new coal-based power facility, he argued, stands in violation of these commitments and undermines the country’s pledges to reduce carbon dependency.
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Court Seeks Explanation from Authorities
After reviewing the petition, the court issued notices to all parties, directing them to submit detailed responses by the next hearing. The bench also questioned whether proper environmental assessments had been conducted prior to the project’s approval.
The petitioner requested the court to declare the construction of the coal power plant illegal, arguing that it poses a serious threat to both public health and Pakistan’s environmental obligations under international conventions.
