CM Adviser reviews EPA performance

PESHAWAR, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Jun, 2026) Advisor to the Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for Climate Change, Forestry, Environment and Wildlife, Pir Musavir Khan, visited the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and chaired a high-level briefing on the Agency’s performance, ongoing initiatives, achievements, challenges, and future priorities.

The briefing was presented by Director EPA Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mr. Afsar Ali Shah, in the presence of Secretary Climate Change, Forestry, Environment and Wildlife Department, Junaid Khan, Director General EPA KP, Asad Ullah Khan, and senior officers of the Environmental Protection Agency.

During the presentation, the Advisor was informed that EPA Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, established in 1989, is the province’s principal environmental regulatory body responsible for implementing environmental laws, controlling pollution, monitoring industrial emissions, reviewing Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), and promoting sustainable development across the province.

The meeting was briefed on several key reforms and initiatives undertaken by the Agency, including the establishment of a Continuous Emission Monitoring System (CEMS) for online industrial emission monitoring, development of a centralized GIS/MIS system, introduction of environmental and climate change subjects in educational curricula, formulation of Provincial Environmental Quality Standards (PEQS), establishment of regional environmental laboratories, and digitization of environmental approval processes.

The Advisor was informed that significant progress has been achieved in environmental regulation and enforcement. More than 4,000 environmental cases referred to the Environmental Protection Tribunal have been disposed of, while 3,989 industrial units have been GIS-mapped to strengthen monitoring and compliance mechanisms.

The Agency has also facilitated the adoption of pollution control technologies by major industrial sectors, including cement and steel industries, and successfully promoted the conversion of traditional brick kilns to environmentally friendly Zig-Zag technology.

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The briefing further highlighted EPA’s efforts in public awareness and climate action, including the establishment of Green Clubs in schools and colleges, regular meetings of the Provincial Climate Change Policy Implementation Committee, and enhanced transparency through online publication of environmental approvals.

The Advisor was also briefed on ongoing monitoring and regulatory actions concerning brick kilns, crushing plants, industrial units, and other environmentally sensitive sectors across the province.

While appreciating the Agency’s performance, Pir Musavir Khan emphasized the critical importance of environmental protection, pollution control, and climate resilience in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He acknowledged the efforts of EPA officers and staff in safeguarding public health and the environment despite resource constraints.

The Advisor directed the Agency to further strengthen environmental governance, improve monitoring and enforcement mechanisms, accelerate the adoption of modern technologies, and enhance public awareness regarding environmental conservation.

He also assured his support for addressing key challenges faced by the Agency, including human resource shortages, logistical requirements, strengthening of district-level environmental presence, and provision of modern monitoring equipment.

Speaking on the occasion, Secretary Climate Change, Forestry, Environment and Wildlife Department, Junaid Khan, reaffirmed the department’s commitment to strengthening institutional capacity and ensuring effective implementation of environmental laws and climate policies across the province.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to advancing sustainable development, improving environmental quality, and ensuring a cleaner, healthier, and climate-resilient future for the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

APP/fam