Ministry of Climate Change Proposes Abolishing Pak-EPA Over Poor Performance

Govt Draft Proposal Dismantling of Pakistan EPA, Sparks Concerns Over Federal Environmental Oversight

Nadeem Tanoli

Islamabad: A confidential draft from the Ministry of Climate Change has proposed the abolition of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA), citing persistent enforcement failures, limited capacity, and sluggish bureaucratic operations. The sweeping restructuring plan aims to transfer core environmental regulatory responsibilities directly to the Ministry while eliminating the agency itself by November 30, 2025.

The document paints a critical picture of Pak-EPA’s performance, describing its current mandate as overly ambitious relative to its scale and influence. It labels the agency a “box-ticking exercise” with minimal impact on the ground, especially after environmental regulation was devolved to the provinces in 2010. The draft singles out Islamabad as a case study in regulatory breakdown, noting unchecked garbage burning, continued use of polythene bags, and toxic vehicle emissions as evidence of enforcement collapse.

Under the proposed plan, only three to four qualified technical experts would be retained and absorbed into the Ministry of Climate Change. The remainder of Pak-EPA’s workforce would be laid off or transferred to the federal surplus pool. The Ministry would directly manage regulatory duties within the Islamabad Capital Territory, while broader implementation across the country would be handed over to provincial governments. The Ministry’s role would be reduced to central coordination and oversight.

This draft is believed to be part of the government’s larger “rightsizing” agenda led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s High-Powered Downsizing Committee. The initiative seeks to streamline public sector operations by closing or merging underperforming departments to reduce fiscal burden. Already, over 65 federal bodies have been shortlisted for closure or consolidation as the government reviews the structure of all 43 ministries.

Experts in environmental governance have raised serious concerns over the implications of dismantling Pak-EPA. While the Ministry may maintain a central coordination role, many warn that eliminating a dedicated regulatory body could severely undermine federal environmental oversight—especially in Islamabad, where issues like air and water pollution are worsening.

The draft follows other structural overhaul proposals under the same downsizing initiative, which has already impacted key ministries such as Science & Technology, Health, and Industries. With the proposed transition deadline looming, the government must now navigate competing pressures: achieving cost-cutting targets while safeguarding environmental governance. The final decision on the fate of Pak-EPA will likely depend on inter-ministerial feedback and potential cabinet-level deliberations in the months ahead.