State of environment: Devolution, paucity of funds delay report

Pak-EPA last published the ‘annual’ study in 2008.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) will publish its ‘annual’ state of the environment (SoE) report this year after a gap of seven years.

The report, which the Pak-EPA is mandated to publish every year under the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act 1997, was last published in 2008.

“The report, which outlines environmental threats and challenges facing the country, will be launched soon,” said Pak- EPA director laboratories Dr Ziauddin Khattak. He said the provinces had provided their inputs for the study.

When asked about the seven-year delay, Khattak said it happened “Due to lack of funds and devolution of the environment ministry after the 18th Amendment.”

The report will cover environmental condition of land, air, water and issues of biodiversity and urbanisation, solid waste management, chemical and hospital waste, and desertification. The study will also discuss policies and law related to environment and sanitation.

“The SoE serves as a tool in monitoring and enforcing compliance with regulations and environmental polices, and also assists in informed decision-making and harmonising with international standards and classifications,” Khattak said. He said from now on, the report will be published in December every year.

The provinces will provide an outline of environmental information related to their regions.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 28^th, 2015.