Parliamentary Committee Issues Directives on Islamabad's Environmental Management
The Standing Committee on Climate Change and Environmental Coordination has taken a firm stance on environmental governance in the federal capital. In a recent meeting chaired by Ms Munaza Hassan, MNA, the committee directed the Capital Development Authority (CDA) to submit the Islamabad Master Plan with clear demarcation of green and brown areas. This directive requires the plan to be supported by satellite imagery and to include comprehensive, site-wise data on tree removal and reforestation efforts, detailing the species affected and those replanted.
Concerns Over Tree Felling and Institutional Coordination
Committee members expressed grave concern over the recent large-scale felling of trees across the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) and highlighted the lack of effective coordination among relevant authorities. They examined the justification, legal basis, and environmental implications of tree-cutting activities, including the removal of paper mulberry trees and other species in various sectors of Islamabad. The committee noted with concern the absence of key stakeholders, such as the Chairman CDA and the Federal Minister and Minister of State for Climate Change, observing that such non-attendance undermines parliamentary oversight.
Questioning Environmental Assessments and Governance
While the CDA maintained that overall green cover in Islamabad has increased through compensatory plantation and transplantation measures, the committee remained unconvinced. Members emphasized that post-facto assurances cannot substitute prior planning, environmental assessment, and statutory compliance, particularly within protected areas like the Margalla Hills National Park. Serious questions were raised regarding:
- The absence of environmental impact studies prior to tree removal.
- The cutting of trees in designated brown areas without ecological cost-benefit analysis.
- Weak institutional coordination between CDA, Pak-EPA, and other regulators.
Institutional Failures and Air Quality Concerns
The committee also expressed dissatisfaction over the continued non-functional state of the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) and the Pakistan Climate Change Authority. It observed that the absence of rules, systems, and legislation has impaired effective environmental governance. Regarding air quality and emissions testing, the committee stressed that environmental mandates lie with Pak-EPA and voiced concern over the lack of a coherent and coordinated plan for emissions monitoring in the federal capital.
Additional Demands for Transparency and Compliance
Further directives included the submission of expert studies and technical assessments forming the basis for the removal of paper mulberry trees, along with a verification report from the Islamabad Wildlife Management Board regarding tree-cutting activities in sensitive and protected areas. The committee underscored the need for improved institutional coordination and compliance with environmental laws to ensure sustainable development in Islamabad.
Meeting Attendance and Broader Implications
The meeting was attended by MNAs Ms Rana Ansar, Ms Shaista Pervaiz, Syeda Shehla Raza, Dr Shazia Sobia Aslam Soomro, Ms Tamkeen Niazi, Ms Shahida Rahmani, Mr Bilal Farooq Tarar, and Ms Tahira Aurangzeb, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, the Capital Development Authority, and the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency. This session highlights ongoing parliamentary efforts to address environmental challenges and enhance accountability in urban planning and conservation initiatives.
