Islamabad: The Pakistan Environment Protection Agency (EPA), an organization working under the Ministry of Climate Change, has been accused of allowing construction without an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report in Sector H/13 of Islamabad.
According to sources, the EPA has been aware of the construction of commercial buildings in the sector for over a years, but has not conducted any public hearings or issued any notices to the building owners. This has led to concerns about the environmental impact of the construction, as well as the disruption it is causing to students at the National University of Science and Technology (NUST).
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When contacted, EPA Deputy Director Khalid Mahmood said that the Director General (DG) of the EPA is the authority to take action on the matter. He said that if the DG gives the order, action will be taken.
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However, he was unable to provide any information on how many buildings have been surveyed in H/13 so far, or which buildings have been issued notices. He instead referred the matter to the EPA’s legal team.
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The construction of commercial buildings in H/13 is a violation of the Islamabad Master Plan, which prohibits commercial activity in the sector. The EPA’s failure to take action on this matter has raised concerns about the agency’s ability to protect the environment and enforce regulations.
“The EPA’s failure to take action on this matter is a serious concern,” said Dr. Tariq Javed, a r
esident nearby. “The EPA is supposed to protect the environment and enforce regulations, but it seems that they are more interested in protecting the interests of developers.”
The EPA’s inaction on this matter is a setback for the government’s efforts to protect the environment and promote sustainable development.
It is important for the EPA to take action to ensure that the construction of commercial buildings in H/13 does not have a negative impact on the environment or the community.
