THE ASPECTS OF LEGISLATION IN ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT: CASE STUDY OF PUNJAB PROVINCE (PAKISTAN)

Abstract

Climate change and escalating environmental degradation have become key constraints to economic growth and sustainable development. One of the biggest challenges in the world is to achieve sustainable development with balanced social, economic, and environmental development. Punjab is the South Asia’s rapidly urbanizing and industrializing region, but environmental degradation reflects the neglected area of sustainable development. It is therefore well recognized that the real attainment of sustainable development is through integration of environmental considerations. Law shapes the behavior and attitudes of human for sustainable and wise use of resources hence effective and biting legislative provisions are needed to lessen the adverse environmental impact of anthropogenic activities through regulatory regime. After 18th constitutional amendment, all provinces made their provincial Environmental laws, but Punjab province just adopted the federal law with few cosmetic changes. The lacunas have been observed by stakeholders and judiciary at every level of its implementation. The overall objective of this study is to improve the environmental management regime in Punjab. The methodology focuses on functional elements of the
institutions to present a clear picture of gaps, flaws in legislation. The research has been developed based on extensive review of research literature, existing documentation, Comparative study of provincial environmental laws, Judgements of Courts, comments from the stakeholders and procedures, as well as interviews and meetings with staff of Environment Protection Department (EPD) Punjab. The analytical structure is based on three components: Institutional, Legal & Regulatory, and Technical aspects.