ISLAMABAD: A sub-committee of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) was informed on Tuesday that 137 buildings, including parts of Parliament House and One Constitution Avenue, fall within the boundaries of the Margalla Hills National Park, while rules for the park’s management and demarcation are yet to be framed.
The disclosure was made during a meeting of the PAC sub-committee, chaired by its Convener Moeen Aamer Pirzada, which reviewed audit objections relating to the Ministry of Climate Change. The committee questioned officials over the delay in framing rules under the 2024 law governing the national park.
“This law was enacted in 2024. Why have the rules not been framed?” the convener asked, stressing that effective rules were also required to prevent encroachments in the protected area. The convener gave authorities two months to frame the rules. Officials of the Ministry of Climate Change told the committee that areas of F-6 and F-7 also fall within the national park and that a considerable number of buildings are located there. They said One Constitution Avenue and part of the Parliament House were also situated within the park’s boundaries.
The committee also discussed the recent heavy rainfall, flooding in Rawalpindi and the longstanding issue of Nullah Lai. Referring to the recent rains, Pirzada said around 200 millimetres of rain had been recorded, resulting in flooding in Rawalpindi, and asked officials whether rainfall could be forecast in advance. “Can you forecast rainfall beforehand?” he asked.
The secretary Climate Change said the ministry’s role was primarily to coordinate Pakistan’s commitments under international conventions. “The ministry also maintains coordination with the provinces,” he added.
Committee member Nadeem Abbas questioned whether the ministry collected data on the effects of climate change and asked officials about its role. The secretary said the ministry followed up on international conventions and coordinated with the provinces. He added that none of the institutions responsible for reporting was subordinate to the Ministry of Climate Change.
The committee also examined an audit objection regarding the non-functioning of the Clean Environment Fund. Pirzada criticised the performance of government departments, saying many were not performing their functions. He suggested that a large number of departments should be privatised. “The disaster is already upon us,” he said, stressing the need for proper planning in view of changing rainfall patterns and variations in temperatures. He said the Environment Department was a key institution but was not performing the role expected of it. He also asked officials whether RO plants installed at different locations were being regularly inspected.
The committee stressed the need for proper planning and effective coordination among relevant institutions to deal with climate change and environmental challenges. The issue of Nullah Lai also came under discussion, with Pirzada saying the problem had been discussed for decades.
“We have been hearing about Nullah Lai since childhood,” he said, asking whether authorities had considered an alternative route or undertaken
any work to address the issue.
He noted that Nullah Lai was again in the news and questioned the arrangements for managing sewage and wastewater.During the meeting, members also questioned the ministry’s preparedness, institutional role and coordination mechanisms in dealing with the growing effects of climate change.
