The Punjab government has failed to appoint a Director General (DG) for Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) despite vacancy emerging six months ago.
Currently five EPAs; one Federal EPA (Pak EPA) and four provincial EPAs are running across the country.
With the conservation of environment becoming a priority for the world, these EPAs in Pakistan have become more significant as they keep a record of the pollution level and other environmental statistics.
Over the last few years, global experts and researchers on environment have repeatedly warned the government of the drastic change in the country’s environment, but unfortunately, the EPAs made by the respective federal and provincial governments have failed to devise or implement any feasible solutions to the problem. .
Plagued with scandals, EPA Punjab has also struggled with internal politics that has rendered the department inefficient and unable to make any substantial efforts to improve the environmental condition in the country.
Before Oct 26, 2016, Dr Javed Iqbal was holding the office of DG EPA Punjab – he was appointed DG EPA on June 12, 2015. Although he he holds a PhD degree, his appointment was challenged in the court on the basis of violation of service rules. Chief Justice of Lahore High Court Syed Mansoor Ali Shah on Oct 26, after hearing arguments of both sides, announced his verdict that the appointment of Dr Javed Iqbal had been made in violation of the rules, therefore, the appointment was declared illegal and without any lawful authority. Court also ordered the appointment of a new DG EPA on merit.
Despite the court’s verdict, Dr Javed Iqbal kept on working as DG EPA. This matter was again brought to the court over which the court sought reply from the Punjab government, before December 19.
With the passage of over six months, since the verdict that called for the removal of the DG EPA was announced by the court, the Punjab government has failed to appoint any other individual to the said post.
Since the said post was vacant, Environment Protection Department Secretary Captain ® Saif Anjum was also given an additional charge of DG EPA.
This is pertinent to mention here that, at the end of February this year, former Lahore Development Authority (LDA) DG Nabeel Javed was appointed as DG EPA but he was transferred as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Punjab Saaf Company within a weak.
