29 August 2004	Sunday	12 Rajab 1425

ISLAMABAD, Aug 28: The NA Standing Committee on Environment has stressed on the government to ensure Environment Protection Laws immediate implementation.

The committee was informed on Friday that due to lack of initiative shown by the provincial environmental protection agencies, laws were not being fully implemented yet, said a press release here.

Secretary Ministry of Environment briefed the committee about budgetary allocations for the years 2003-04 and 2004-05.

The committee showed its concern over non-implementation of the National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS) approved by the Pakistan Environmental Protection Council (PEPC) in 1993.

The chairperson directed the Environment Ministry to immediately notify the industrial sector to abide by standards.

The meeting also directed the ministry to make the Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) mandatory before any project.

Participants were also urged to intensify the implementation of Clean Drinking Water Initiative and Activity-based Capacity Development Project, which had already been approved.

The meeting was attended by MNAs Dr Rozina Tufail, Malik Amin Aslam Khan, Nawab Amanullah Khan, Begum Tehmina Dasti, Israrul Ibad Khan, Samina Kahlid Ghurki, Syed Nayyar Hussain Bokhari, Maulana Ahmad Ghafoor, Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah, Secretary Ministry of Environment and other officers of the concerned departments.-APP