PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Environmental Protection Agency (KP-EPA) is expected to launch its Digitalisation of Environmental Approvals and Monitoring System (DEAMS) next week to strengthen environmental protection, improve transparency and modernise governance.
According to an official statement, the system was jointly developed by Green Environment Laboratory and Solutions and Geo Solutions. It aims to replace conventional paper-based procedures for environmental approvals, regulatory compliance and field monitoring with an integrated, automated and transparent digital framework.
Secretary of the Climate Change, Forestry, Environment and Wildlife Department, Junaid Khan, said the initiative would simplify application submission and scrutiny, minimise administrative delays, ensure verifiable record-keeping and strengthen monitoring of compliance with environmental laws.
He said the system would facilitate ease of doing business and promote responsible economic growth while ensuring that development remained aligned with environmental protection and the sustainable use of natural resources.
Under DEAMS, applicants will be able to submit applications for environmental impact assessments (EIA), initial environmental examinations (IEE) and general environmental approvals online. The platform will also allow users to upload required documents and pay applicable fees through an integrated payment mechanism.
The system is expected to improve communication between applicants and authorities and enable the systematic tracking of applications, progress and decisions at each stage of the approval process.
Mr Khan said the platform also featured a geographic information system (GIS)-based mapping facility to assess the locations and boundaries of proposed development projects. By incorporating information on protected areas, water bodies and environmentally sensitive sites, the system would help officials evaluate potential environmental impacts more comprehensively.
The feature is expected to support better planning in areas requiring special protection for forests, water resources, biodiversity and human settlements.
Another key component is a mobile application for field inspections, compatible with Android and iOS devices, to facilitate digital monitoring and regulatory oversight.
Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi described the initiative as a practical step towards digital transformation and transparent public administration in the province.
KP-EPA Director General Tariq Khan said shifting from manual monitoring to an automated digital framework would further strengthen the agency’s legal and administrative capacity.
Published in Dawn, October 25th, 2026
