Capital’s pollution: SC seeks report from civic bodies

A three-member bench headed by Justice Mian Saqib Nisar issues directives while hearing case on pollution in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD:

The Supreme Court has sought reports from the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), the Capital Development Authority (CDA), the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA), and the Motor Vehicle Registration Authority on rising pollution in Islamabad.

A three-member bench headed by Justice Mian Saqib Nisar issued the directives while hearing a case on pollution in Islamabad.

Justice Nisar sought a report from the CDA detailing steps that the civic body has taken to control pollution.

An EPA official explained the legal limitations and weaknesses of the environmental body, telling the apex court that it lacks legal power to arrest polluters or impose fines as it could only file complaints with the environmental tribunal.

DAG Khawaja Ahmad Hussain presented a report which said that the Pak-EPA and the Motor Vehicle Authority were responsible for implementing environmental laws in Islamabad.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 19^th, 2015.