The Lahore High Court has ruled the Orange Line Metro Train Project cannot be built within 200 metres of heritage sites, including St Andrews Church.

It announced its ruling regarding the petition on August 19 and declared government’s NoC null and void.

The counsel for petitioners had argued that construction of the project would put many historic sites in danger.

Delivering its reserved decision, the LHC directed work be halted around eleven buildings which also include, Supreme Court Lahore Registry, the General Post Office, and the Aiwan-i-Auqaf.

Besides, LHC’s ruling the World Heritage Committee of the UNESCO had also expressed serious concerns about the construction proposal of the metro train project.

The committee had requested the provincial government suspend its construction work around the site.

While the World Heritage Committee requested the Punjab government to provide a report including technical details such as a heritage impact assessment.