The Environmental Protection Tribunal in Islamabad has imposed a penalty of Rs. 68,100,000 on M/s Skyline Builders & Developers after finding that the company continued construction of a high-rise in the New Blue Area without securing the mandatory environmental approval from the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency.
Pak-EPA brought the case under Section 21(3)(a) of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act 1997, citing violations of Section 12 and the IEE & EIA Regulations 2000, which require prior environmental clearance before commencing construction. The Tribunal record shows that construction proceeded for 681 days without approval.
The Tribunal imposed a base fine of Rs. 1,000,000 plus Rs. 100,000 for each day of unauthorized work, resulting in a total penalty of Rs. 68,100,000. The order directs Skyline Builders to suspend all construction immediately and to obtain the required environmental approval from Pak-EPA before any work may resume.
The judgement requires the company to deposit the fine with the Federal Government Treasury within 15 days under the relevant head. The Director General of Pak-EPA welcomed the decision, saying the ruling strengthens environmental accountability in the Federal Capital and underscores the agency’s commitment to enforcing the law.
The outcome serves as a clear reminder to developers operating in Islamabad that adherence to the PEP Act and the IEE & EIA Regulations 2000 is mandatory. For Skyline Builders the ruling means halted construction until compliance and formal approval by Pak-EPA are achieved.
