Climate Ministry Proposes Closure of PCCA, IWMB, EPA

News Desk

Islamabad: In a sweeping but controversial move, Pakistan’s Ministry of Climate Change is preparing to dismantle several of its most prominent environmental institutions as part of a broader “rightsizing” initiative, according to a confidential draft obtained by this publication.

The proposed restructuring—described by officials on the condition of anonymity as the most extensive overhaul in the ministry’s history—would see the closure or merger of critical attached bodies, including the Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA), Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB), Zoological Survey of Pakistan (ZSP), and possibly even the recently established Pakistan Climate Change Authority (PCCA).

The internal draft, currently under review, frames the overhaul as a bid to streamline governance, eliminate institutional redundancies, and reorient the Ministry’s focus toward international diplomacy and climate finance rather than sprawling enforcement regimes and overlapping federal-provincial functions.

The move is aligned with a larger federal agenda led by the Prime Minister to downsize over 65 public sector organizations.

PCCA: A Short-Lived Experiment?

Perhaps the most striking element of the draft is the proposal to dismantle the Pakistan Climate Change Authority (PCCA), created only a year ago to coordinate national climate policy and secure global climate funding.

The Ministry now argues that Pakistan’s status as a negligible global emitter does not warrant a stand-alone authority.

Instead, the Ministry proposes retaining only a lean, expert-led unit—roughly 10 professionals—tasked with managing global negotiations, reporting frameworks, and funding proposals. The rest of the PCCA staff would be dismissed, and all redundant posts eliminated by November.

The proposal warns that expanding regulatory frameworks could increase energy costs and climate compliance burdens for industries and households, risking economic disruption without delivering tangible climate benefits.

ZSP: From Science to Shutdown

The Zoological Survey of Pakistan (ZSP), responsible for ecological research and endangered species data collection, is also on the chopping block. The audit notes a lack of meaningful output, despite the ZSP overseeing critical initiatives like a 725-acre botanical garden and wildlife surveys.

Under the proposed reform, survey responsibilities would be outsourced to the Pakistan Wildlife Foundation (PWF), with provinces paying for the services. The botanical garden would be transferred to the Planning Ministry and developed into an eco-tourism destination through a public-private partnership. ZSP staff would be released, and only essential functions retained within the Ministry’s core.

IWMB and the Fate of the Margalla Hills

The Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB), a high-profile body managing Margalla Hills National Park and overseeing animal welfare after the Islamabad Zoo’s closure, is slated for dissolution. The draft argues that wildlife care and regulatory functions can be outsourced or absorbed into the Ministry directly.

The Margalla Hills National Park would be shifted to the Planning Ministry and opened to private-sector investment through sustainable tourism models. Wildlife rescue operations and enforcement would be handed to NGOs like the Pakistan Wildlife Foundation.

Pak-EPA: Toothless Regulator or Necessary Watchdog?

The proposal’s most politically sensitive recommendation is the abolition of Pak-EPA. Despite its statutory mandate to regulate pollution, enforce environmental laws, and issue licenses, the agency is labeled “ineffective” and “symbolic.”

The audit criticizes Pak-EPA’s inability to enforce basic regulations—even in Islamabad—citing continued garbage burning, toxic emissions, and violations of the plastic bag ban.

The Ministry plans to absorb only Pak-EPA’s biosafety and essential regulatory functions. Most of its staff would be dismissed or shifted to the federal surplus pool, and the agency formally dissolved by November 30.

Scientific Research in Jeopardy

The Global Change Impact Studies Centre (GCISC), which provides climate modeling and training, is also under threat. The Ministry recommends transferring its functions to academic institutions like Quaid-i-Azam University or NUST. If no institution is willing to absorb it, the Centre could be shut down, and future research commissioned through targeted grants.

The move reflects a strategic pivot—away from in-house research and toward a policy-centric model focused on global engagement and funding access.

PCCC: Nominal or Necessary?

The future of the Pakistan Climate Change Council, a legally mandated body chaired by the Prime Minister, is also under review. The draft questions its influence, citing unclear staffing, budgets, and a low meeting frequency. The Ministry suggests it may be nominal in function and potentially redundant.

A Shift in Climate Governance Philosophy

At the heart of the reform is a radical redefinition of the Ministry’s role. Rather than directly managing environmental projects or enforcement, the Ministry proposes a narrower, strategic focus: advocating Pakistan’s climate vulnerability, securing international funding, and protecting access to affordable energy.

The draft explicitly cautions against a hasty shift to costly renewables, advocating for “pragmatic solutions” such as clean coal, nature-based adaptation, and selective renewable adoption—tailored to Pakistan’s economic realities.

The 18th Amendment Shadow

The proposals also highlight the complications created by the 18th Amendment, which devolved environmental responsibilities to provinces. The Ministry argues that overlapping roles between federal and provincial departments have created inefficiencies and confusion.

It advocates for a decentralized model, with provinces taking the lead on implementation, while the federal government focuses on global negotiations and compliance.

As the draft moves toward inter-ministerial review and potential cabinet debate, it signals a critical juncture: whether Pakistan is reshaping its climate governance for agility—or retreating from its environmental responsibilities in the name of efficiency.