Environmental impact assessment (EIA) is a process that examines the potential impacts of development projects on society and the environment. The concept of EIA originated in 1969 by the US National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), followed by other developed and developing countries all over the globe. This paper reviews the legal status of EIA and its implementation, effectiveness, and deficiencies in Pakistan. EIA received legal status in Pakistan when the Environmental Protection Ordinance (PEPO) was drafted in 1983. This ordinance was then converted into the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act (PEPA) in 1997. Currently, EIA is conducted for many development projects in Pakistan, including infrastructure and industry projects. Environmental protection acts containing sections related to EIA and Initial Environmental Examinations (IEE; a small preliminary study for an EIA project) have been established by all Pakistani provinces, which conduct its systematic facilitation in the country. The effectiveness of the EIA/IEE process in Pakistan can be enhanced by ensuring stakeholder participation, guaranteeing transparency, providing resources to environmental agencies, and post-monitoring of EIA/IEE processes. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2022;18:314-318. © 2021 SETAC.
Keywords: Environmental impact assessment; Pakistan Environmental Protection Act; Pakistan Environmental Protection Ordinance.
© 2021 SETAC.