Environmental Law
Law is a binding force to keep a society civilized and disciplined, while environmental law guarantees to keep natural resources of a country intact. Environmental law should be a shield in the hands of activists, civil society organizations and pro-public advocates. SCOPE has been instrumental in legal advocacy to protect environment and natural resources in Pakistan. SCOPE in 1993 moved several petitions in High Court and Supreme Court for the protection of Kirthar National Park from Indus Highway Project, Haleji Wildlife Sanctuary from illegal fishing and Houbara bustard from illegal hunting by falconers. SCOPE also moved to Supreme Court of Pakistan to save the water of Indus river from poisonous water of controversial right bank outfall drainage (RBOD) project.
SCOPE has been closely working with Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (ELAW), which is most prominent international network of environmental law attorneys and activists. ELAW has supported SCOPE and other NGOs in South Asia for the capacity building of young environmental lawyers. E-LAW U.S office along with civil society organizations in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal is engaged in a training program to promote responsible governance in South Asia by involving citizens, especially youth, in attaining compliance with judicial orders. This project started with training workshops in each of the E-LAW partner countries: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. These workshops trained NGO leaders, senior and mid-level government agency officials, law enforcement agents, and journalists, about how to ensure compliance with judicial orders.
