The Standing Committee on Environment was informed that because of initiative lack shown by the Provincial Environmental Protection Agencies (PEPA), Environmental Protection law was not being fully implemented yet, states a press release here on Friday.
Secretary Ministry of Environment briefed the Committee about budgetary allocations for 2003-04 and 2004-05 in respect of projects for protection of environment.
The Standing Committee chairperson termed that the surrender of major portion of allocated budget meant for environmental protection projects during 2003-04.
Committee showed its concern over non-implementation of National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS) approved by the Pakistan Environmental Protection Council (PEPC) in 1993.
The Chairperson directed the Ministry of Environment to immediately notify the industrial sector to abide by the environmental standards.
The meeting also directed the Ministry to make the Environment Impact Assessment (E1A) mandatory before initiation of any project in order to know whether it was carrying any adverse environmental impact.
Participants also urged to intensify the implementation of Clean Drinking Water Initiative and Activity based Capacity Development Project, which had already been approved by the competent forum.
The meeting was attended by MNAs Dr Rozina Tufail, Malik Amin Aslam Khan, Nawab Amanullah Khan, Begum Tehmina Dasti, Israrul ibad Khan, Samina Kahlid Ghurki, Syed Nayyar Hussain Bokhari, Maulana Ahmad Ghafoor, Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah, Secretary Ministry of Environment and other officers of the concerned departments.