PEPA ACT 1997:

PAKISTAN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY ACT 1997:

Background:

                         In 1983 Pakistan Environmental  Protection Ordinance was presented by the then President. Which emphasized that the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency should be established along with the  Pakistan Environmental Protection Council in Pakistan. After PEPA act 1997 following were established in Pakistan.

a) Pakistan Environmental Protection Council (PEPC).

b) Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (PEPA).

c) Environmental Impact Assessment Principles (EIA' Principles).

  1.  Pakistan Environmental Protection Council:

• It is a federal council under federal government umbrella. Chairman shall be the sitting Prime Minister.
• Member all relevant ministries.

==> Ministry for climate change.

==> Ministry for Finance.

==> Ministry for Agriculture.

==> Ministry for wild/fisheries.

==>Ministry for Human Rights Development.

==> Ministry for Planning Commission.

2. Functions of Pakistan Environmental Protection Council:

• It is responsible to supervise the environment.
• It is responsible for directions and decision making regarding environment protection.
• It is responsible for coordination of information.
• It is responsible to approve NEQ's (National Environmental Quality Standards).
• It consider national environmental report and giving appropriate directions.
• It is responsible to promote sustainable development.
• It is responsible to monitor the environment.
• It is responsible to approve national environmental policies.
• It is responsible for the integration of environmental polices.
• It is responsible to provide Guidelines.

3. Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency:

• It is the federal agency under federal government.
• Lead by Director General (DG) with consent of climate change ministry.
• It is an administrative Unit.

4. Functions of Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency:

• It is mainly responsible for the implementation of laws.
• It is also responsible for the enforcement of environmental policies.
• It is responsible for the co-ordination process.
• It is responsible to gather environmental information.
• It is responsible to design the national annual reports.
• It is responsible to design NEQ's.
• It is responsible to promote environmental research as a major task.
• It is responsible to promote environmental education.
• It is responsible to conduct and approve the EIA in Pakistan.
• It is responsible to monitor the industry.
• It may inspect the facility at any time.( companies, industries, etc).
• It is responsible to ensure environmental compliance in Pakistan.
• It is responsible to enforce the sustainable development concept.
• For any lab or industry EPA approval is necessary.
• Any other function which is assign by the council EPA is responsible to execute that function.

Provincial EPA's:

a) Punjab EPA.

b) Sindh EPA.

c) KPK EPA.

d) Baluchistan EPA.

These provincial EPA's were lead by DG's.

After 18th Amendment 

• Environment subject was given to provinces.
• Disaster was also given to provinces.
• To register a complaints against environment to EPA and EPa will hear and take action against that project.