ISLAMABAD - Federal Minister for Climate Change, Mushahid Ullah Khan, has expressed resentment over the depressing performance of Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) in controlling environmental pollution in the capital city, The Nation learnt on Wednesday.
Well-placed sources in Ministry of Climate Change, requesting anonymity, said that few weeks ago a performance report was submitted to Mushahid Ullah Khan by Pak-EPA Director-General.
The sources said, "The performance report spelled out different measures taken by the Pak-EPA with regard to tackling environmental degradation and the issue of polythene bags in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), but the minister termed them much below the satisfaction."
The sources mentioned, the performance report has been sent back to the DG with comments by the minister seeking separate performance reports of all the employees of the Pak-EPA, the largest environmental agency in Pakistan.
The minister termed the role of Pak-EPA of unprecedented significance in view of the environmental degradation, which has disfigured the capital in every form and manifestation.
Mushahid said the Pak-EPA officers would be brought to book, if their performance report is found unsatisfactory, particularly in controlling air and water pollution.
A senior official of ministry informed that PAK-EPA agency told the minister that agency had fine those factories which were spreading pollution in the capital, located in sector H-9 and the agency has also launched a campaign polythene bag free capital.
The minister responded to the Pak-EPA administration that it was the duty of the agency, which has a good budget and staff for controlling the pollution in the capital, he added.