The Supreme Court in Pakistan has instructed the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government to end and implement the rules of stone crushing within a month and reject its request for a three-month extension.

A constitutional bench of five members, led by Justice Aminuddin Khan, heard the case on Monday. The course focused on the environmental impact of stone crushing operations and their proximity to residential areas, Express News reported.

During the consultation, KP’s additional lawyer (AAG) informed the court that the province has 903 stone crushing systems, of which 544 are operational, 230 is under construction and 37 have been issued for the reasoning of a show.

In addition, 210 plants were sealed for violation of the rules.

Justice Jamal Mandokhail questioned the overall enforcement of laws and noted, “The constitution is not followed here and you are talking about rules.” He emphasized the importance of not only setting rules but also ensuring their effective implementation.

Justice Hashim Khan Kakar asked about the legal framework that managed stone crushing operations.

AAG replied that earlier regulations banned from creating stone crushers within a kilometer populated areas, but a revised law now allows their establishment of at least 500 meters in urban areas and 300 meters in rural areas.

Environmental problems were also raised during the consultation. Waqar Zakariya, a commission member, pointed out that wind patterns could lead dust particles from stone crushers to residential areas, making distance limits ineffective.

He suggested that dust suppession measures, such as wooden plantations and irrigation systems, should be mandated for crusher operators.

The KP government requested three months to end the rules but the court rejected the request and gave only one month. Justice Kakar asked, “Should people continue to suffer during this time?” He noted that public health and environmental security must prioritize.

Meanwhile, lawyer Khawaja Haris, who represents the stone crushing industry, claimed that a pending appeal against the Supreme Court’s previous decision should be considered before any new rules are enforced. However, Justice Mandokhail questioned whether the appeal used retroactively or only after the 26th constitutional amendment.

The court ended by ordering the KP government to seek approval of its rules from the National Environment Council within a month. The case was subjected to further review after the deadline.