ISLAMABAD, Feb 11: The Consumer Rights Commission of Pakistan (CRCP) on Friday criticized Pakistan Environmental Protection Council (PEPC) for failing to control atmospheric degradation that had become a serious concern in the country.

Voicing its concern over the inactivity of the PEPC since 2001, the commission urged the government to hold a meeting of the council which had not met even once during this period.

A statement issued by the CRCP said after its set up in 1984 under section 3 of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Ordinance 1983, the PEPC was responsible for formulation and coordination of national environmental policies and programmes.

The CRCP said the first meeting of the council was held in 1993, a decade after its set up. It became active only after the change in its management in 1994. Seven meetings were held in the period of 20 months from 1994 to 1996. However, the meetings strictly focussed on afforestation. Matters pertaining to prevention of pollution of environment were ignored.

The last time the PEPC met was back in February 2001, the CRCP said. The commission dilated that environmental degradation was becoming a serious concern in Pakistan and existing laws, rules and regulations had not been implemented fully.

The CRCP in collaboration with Global Environment Facility (GEF) of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) identified gaps in the implementation of PEPA 1997.

The National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS) approved by PEPC in 1993 were yet to be enforced. In the absence of such laws, the CRCP said effluents released from industries and vehicles were rapidly damaging the environment and causing threats to public health.

The commission demanded of the government to ensure that the PEPC came into action to protect the environment. It urged the standing committees of the National Assembly and Senate on environment to take steps for making the PEPC an active and functional body.