LAHORE: The Punjab government has moved to introduce significant amendments to the Punjab Environmental Protection Act, 1997, aiming to modernise the province’s environmental regulatory regime and strengthen the enforcement authority of the Provincial Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The proposed legislation, titled The Punjab Environmental Protection (Amendment) Act, 2026, has been presented to the Punjab Assembly and referred to the concerned standing committee for further examination.
The amendment bill seeks to address evolving environmental challenges that were either absent or insufficiently regulated when the original law was enacted nearly three decades ago. One of the most notable proposed changes is the formal inclusion of a definition of “e-waste” in the Act. Under the proposed amendment, e-waste is defined as waste of electronic or electrical equipment, including all components, sub-assemblies and consumables. The inclusion is expected to lay the legal groundwork for regulating the collection, handling, recycling and disposal of discarded electronic products, a rapidly growing waste stream driven by technological change and rising consumption.
The bill also proposes a substantial expansion of the institutional powers of the Provincial EPA. It seeks to authorise the agency to initiate requests for foreign assistance for the purposes of implementing the Act and, subject to government approval, to enter into arrangements with foreign agencies or organisations. These arrangements may involve the exchange of material or information and participation in international seminars, conferences or meetings. Officials say the provision is intended to facilitate access to technical expertise, capacity-building initiatives and best international practices in environmental management.
Another proposed amendment relates to the disposal of confiscated materials. The bill empowers the EPA to dispose of, or cause to be disposed of, seized or confiscated material in accordance with guidelines issued by the agency itself. This provision aims to address practical difficulties faced by regulators in managing hazardous or illegal materials following enforcement actions, particularly in cases involving industrial waste and environmentally harmful substances.
The proposed legislation further strengthens enforcement mechanisms by expanding the scope of Environmental Protection Orders. Under the amendment, the EPA would be authorised to seize articles, goods, materials and vehicles involved in the commission of an environmental offence. It would also have the power to seal premises, goods, materials and industrial or commercial units found to be operating in violation of environmental laws and standards. These measures reflect a shift towards more immediate and deterrent regulatory action against polluters.
The Punjab Environmental Protection Act, 1997, was enacted to provide a comprehensive legal framework for the protection, conservation, rehabilitation and improvement of the environment, while controlling pollution and promoting sustainable development. It established the EPA as the primary regulatory authority, introduced requirements for environmental impact assessments, and provided for the setting of environmental quality standards. The Act also created environmental tribunals to adjudicate violations and disputes.
However, over the years, environmental experts and policymakers have argued that the law has struggled to keep pace with new forms of pollution, industrial expansion and emerging waste streams such as plastics and electronic waste. Weak enforcement powers, limited international cooperation and procedural delays have also been cited as factors undermining its effectiveness.
If enacted, the Punjab Environmental Protection (Amendment) Act, 2026, would represent one of the most extensive revisions of the province’s environmental legislation since 1997. The referral of the bill to the standing committee suggests that lawmakers will now review its provisions in detail, with potential input from stakeholders, before it returns to the assembly for debate and passage.
