QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan Alyani has directed the Envir­onment Department for taking steps and suggesting legislation to make obtaining a NOC (no objection certificate) mandatory for major construction projects in private and public sectors.

The chief minister presided over a meeting which reviewed different matters regarding the provincial Environment Department and Environmental Protection Agency.

The meeting approved the appointment of a technical representative of the Environment Department.

The secretary of the Enviro­nment and Environmental Protec­tion, Abdul Saboor Kakar, briefed the meeting on environmental matters and proposed reforms.

“Climate change poses a serious threat to the environment thus the use of modern technology and reforms in the field of environment is needed to deal effectively with the environmental challenges,” CM Alyani said and stressed upon further improvement in the environment department in order to create an ample scope for skilled posts in the department.

He said that revolutionary progress in the construction sector was expected under the incentives given by the federal government while the government of Balochistan was also pursuing development plans for coastal and other areas.

The chief minister said a comprehensive policy needed to be formulated to regulate this development process and make it environmentally friendly.

The meeting reviewed formation of the Sustainable Development Fund. The role of the Balochistan Environmental Protection Agency and the service rules of the department were also reviewed and important steps in this regard were approved.

Published in Dawn, August 12th, 2020