ISLAMABAD: Members of a parliamentary committee convened on Monday to raise serious concerns about water pollution and environmental degradation across the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).
During the session of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, chaired by acting chair Dr. Shazia Sobia Aslam Soomro, representatives specifically highlighted the issue of contaminated water sources and the influx of untreated wastewater into natural streams.
According to a memorandum issued by the NA Secretariat, ministry officials informed the committee that steps are underway to address illegal discharges. They noted that a sewage treatment plant at Korang Nullah is in development to curb pollution entering Rawal Dam.
The committee also reviewed institutional coordination for climate financing, green taxonomy, international partnerships, and the drafting of new National Ambient Air Quality Standards. These standards are expected to be finalized later this year with technical assistance from the Asian Development Bank.
Committee members emphasized the need for regular ministerial engagement and accountability, and Federal Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Musadiq Malik, assured them of his continued availability for briefings.
Musadiq Malik briefed the committee on the ministry’s Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for FY 2026‑27.
He explained that the ministry is operating within a constrained fiscal space and has prioritized national‑significance projects, including a new botanical garden and air‑quality initiatives. Opportunities for private‑sector participation are being explored.
He updated the members on completed projects, such as the Pakistan Biosafety Clearing House—established to satisfy the country’s reporting obligations under the Cartagena Protocol and to strengthen the Environmental Protection Agency—and a water‑quality initiative that has set up laboratories and testing facilities through the WASH programme.
Ministry officials also detailed recent regulatory decisions regarding genetically modified soybean and canola, noting that these measures support the poultry sector while remaining grounded in scientific evidence, food‑security considerations, and alignment with stringent international standards, including those of the European Union.
The Ministry of Industries and Production briefed the committee on Pakistan’s Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy, developed by the Engineering Development Board in consultation with development partners, think‑tanks, and universities.
The briefing outlined incentives for electric two‑ and three‑wheelers, strategies to expand charging infrastructure, and ongoing efforts to encourage localisation of manufacturing and reduce dependence on imported components.
Committee members sought clarification on the availability of charging stations, affordability of electric vehicles, battery recycling mechanisms, manufacturer incentives, indigenous production of spare parts, and the long‑term sustainability of the transition.
The committee was informed that more than 100 licensed charging stations have already been approved, that new petrol stations in Islamabad will be required to include EV charging facilities, and that a comprehensive battery policy and recycling framework has been prepared and is awaiting approval.
Members were apprised of the Pakistan Accelerated Vehicle Electrification (PAVE) programme, additional schemes under consideration—including facilitation for government employees in grades BPS 1‑16—and sand‑kiln enhancement initiatives.
The committee recommended that the ministry present a comprehensive briefing on Pakistan’s policy framework related to genetically modified organisms (GMOs) and bio‑safety.
It further directed the ministry to furnish complete details of all laboratories certified to conduct vehicle emissions testing and to submit a detailed report on the demarcation and legal boundaries of Margalla Hills National Park.
The meeting was attended by Mir Khan Mohammad Jamali, Shaista Khan, Shehla Raza, Mussarat Rafique Mahesar, Rana Ansar, Tamkeen Akhter Niazi, and Shahida Rehmani.
Senior officers from the relevant ministries and departments, as well as the Capital Development Authority, were also present.
Published in Dawn, June 30th, 2026