New environment laws to validate CDA action
By Ali Imran

ISLAMABAD—The Capital Development Authority (CDA) is promulgating the laws validating its action against the environment hazards across the federal capital prior to theMinistry of Environment, a CDA official said here Monday.
The official said that owing to the growing number of water,air and noise pollution, it has become inevitable to formulate the laws empowering the Authority take action against such elements.
He said with the consultation of the Ministry of Environmentthe draft of the `Environment Protection Regulation for Islamabad’under the CDA Ordinance 1962 is underway, and a committee comprising the environmental experts from the ministry of environment and other concerned bodies are supervising the process. He said once the laws are promulgated, the Authority would be empowered to check the elements harming the natural beauty of the city. Presently, these powers are covered under theEnvironment Protection Act 1997 and the environment ministry delays action due to some procedural complications.
The Authority has also consulted with several environmentalprotection agencies including the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (PEPA), the Environment Ministry, the IUCN, LeadPakistan, the Meteorological Department and various Non-Government Organizations (NGOs). The official added that the industries and the bricks kilnsare badly affecting the environment and the people expect the Authority take action against them. He said that the Authority has also made it compulsory tosubmit the environment assessment report before the execution ofany project in the federal capital. The Authority will set up a special cell for the implementation of these laws as population and environmental problems were growing rapidly, he said. The official said that the Authority has hired consultantfirms to draft the laws, which would be finalized in the meetingto be held within a week or two.