The Environmental Protection Tribunal Islamabad has imposed a penalty of Rs. 68,100,000 on M/s Skyline Builders & Developers for commencing construction of a high-rise in the New Blue Area without obtaining the mandatory environmental approval from the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency.
Pak-EPA filed the case under Section 21(3)(a) of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act 1997, citing a breach of Section 12 and the IEE & EIA Regulations 2000 which require prior environmental clearance. Section 12 expressly states that no proponent shall commence construction without prior approval from the Pak-EPA.
The Tribunal found that Skyline Builders continued construction for 681 days without approval. The penalty was calculated as a base fine of Rs. 1,000,000 plus Rs. 100,000 for each day of unlawful construction, resulting in a total fine of Rs. 68.1 million.
The Tribunal ordered immediate suspension of all work and directed that the company must obtain the required environmental approval from Pak-EPA before any resumption of construction. The fine is to be deposited with the Federal Government Treasury within 15 days under the relevant head.
The Director General of Pak-EPA had instructed the Agency’s legal team to press the matter and described the ruling as a landmark decision to reinforce environmental accountability in the federal capital. The judgment is being seen as a firm affirmation of Pak-EPA’s commitment to enforce environmental law and ensure that urban development in Islamabad proceeds with proper environmental safeguards. Skyline Builders is required to comply fully with the Tribunal’s orders and secure Pak-EPA approval prior to continuing the project.
