Arresting climate change through LGs.

Environment and climate change is a federal and provincial subject in Pakistan. However, growing heat island effects, deteriorating air quality and regular events of urban flooding each year require urban planners and metropolitan authorities to reconsider their infrastructural planning and development patterns, considering efficient climate-resilient strategies.

That's not possible without empowering local governments to tackle the environmental issues by themselves as well as devolving subsequent functions of environment protection and climate change solutions from provincial governments to local bodies.

A year ago, on February 1, 2022, the Supreme Court, in a judgment, directed the Sindh government to devolve financial, administrative and political powers to the local governments in the province as enshrined in Article 140-A of the constitution. That also understandably entailed the devolution of various functions of the Sindh Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) to local bodies. But the Sindh government is, so far, unmoved and silent on the decentralisation of Sepa.

The Sindh cabinet, on October 31 2022, approved a summary to amend the Sindh Local Government Act (SLGA) 2013 through an ordinance to give more powers to elected representatives, especially the next mayor of Karachi. That was disclosed by the then provincial government`s spokesperson and Karachi Administrator Barrister Murtaza Wahab at a media briefing.

Solutions to better managing the environment lie at the grassroots level

According to him, after the amendments, the next mayor of Karachi would be the chairman of major civic bodies, including the Karachi Development Authority, Karachi Water and Sewerage Board and Solid Waste Management Board. No doubt, water and waste are essential components of environmental management.

But the former administrator did not confirm whether the mayor would also be made responsible for the environment protection body and various land authorities in light of the Supreme Court`s verdict.

There is no denying the apex court didn't name Sepa in the order. But environmental laws have traditionally been considered superior to other laws, which gives them an overriding effect. According to Section 24 of the law, the environment watchdog has been above all the government tiers. Sepa has overriding powers over other civic agencies, and its jurisdiction extends to even areas like cantonment boards that come under the federal domain.

For example, if the...