PESHAWAR, March 27: Non-availability of sufficient funds on the part of the provincial government and the absence of a proper force to implement the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997, were cited as main factors why the Environmental Protection Agency, NWFP, was not so effective.

“Funds made available to EPA are enough only to meet its establishment cost,” participants of a seminar were informed here on Thursday.

During the course of a discussion following a presentation on the Act, participants of the seminar were informed that EPA lacked effectiveness because it had not at its disposal a force to implement the environmental act.

In his presentation on “PEPA 1997”, Prof Ahmed Ali, dean faculty of law, University of Peshawar, said that lack of interest on the part of state agencies concerned to implement the National Environmental Quality Standards and other provisions of the PEPA, 1997, had, apparently, rendered the legislation ineffective.

The seminar was arranged by the Communication Round-table — a component of the Sarhad Provincial Conservation Strategy.

Later, a meeting of the communication round-table was held with the chairman of the department of mass communication, Dr Shah Jehan Syed, in the chair.

The meeting approved new membership list and constituted five committees to spread awareness regarding environmental issues and prevent degradation of natural resources by involving a cross section of society.

The committees include: education committee, civil society organizations committee, industries committee, media committee and a committee to persuade decision-makers to help preserve environment and natural habitat initially in the Peshawar district.

Scope of activities of these committees would gradually be expanded to other districts of the province, it was decided at the meeting, where representatives of academia, public sector organizations, non-governmental organizations and the media were present.