February 11, 2005

Islamabad: Consumer Rights Commission of Pakistan (CRCP) has called attention of the government to hold meeting of Pakistan Environmental Protection Council (PEPC), which has not met even once since 2001. The council is required to meet at least twice a year under Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997.

In a press statement, CRCP has voiced its concern over inactivity of the PEPC over a long period. PEPC was set up in 1984 under section 3 of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Ordinance 1983. It is the apex organization at the national level with prime minister in the chair, which is responsible for formulation and coordination of national environmental policies and programs. However, it has remained almost non-functional for most of its tenure. First meeting of the council could be held in 1993, about a decade after its establishment. It became active only following the change in its management in 1994; seven meetings were held in the span of 20 months from 1994 to 1996. However, during this period, major focus rested on afforestation. Other areas such as pollution prevention were not given due attention. The last meeting of PEPC was held in February 2001.

While explaining the need for meeting of PEPC, CRCP said that environmental degradation was becoming a serious concern in Pakistan. The existing environmental laws, rules, and regulations have not been implemented fully. A review of environment protection work undertaken as part of a project, which CRCP is implementing in collaboration with Global Environment Facility (GEF) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has shown that there are serious gaps in implementation of PEPA 1997. National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS), which were approved by PEPC in 1993, are yet to be implemented fully. As a result, municipal and industrial effluents are causing damage to the environment and public health. There is a dire need for meeting of PEPC to discuss and take appropriate measures for implementation of NEQS and other environmental issues, CRCP said.

CRCP has called attention of the Prime Minister of Pakistan, who is chairperson of the Council, to convene a meeting of the PEPC. It also stressed that at least two meetings of PEPC should be held in a year, as provided in the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997. Moreover, CRCP has also urged the standing committees of National Assembly and the Senate on environment to take steps for making PEPC an active and functional body.