April 24, 2026
By Aitzaz Ibrahim
LAHORE
The Punjab Assembly on Friday passed two significant pieces of legislation — the Punjab Protected Areas (Amendment) Bill 2026 and the Forest (Amendment) Bill 2026 — introducing changes to existing environmental laws to facilitate development projects, particularly in the mining sector, while drawing criticism from environmental experts and opposition members.
The Punjab Protected Areas (Amendment) Bill 2026 amends provisions of the Punjab Protected Areas Act, 2020, including sections 10, 21 and 22. Under the previous framework, activities in protected areas required written permission from the government on the recommendation of a designated board. The amendment replaces this requirement with a system based on “terms and conditions as may be prescribed,” thereby altering the approval process.
According to the statement of objects and reasons, the existing provisions created procedural hurdles that adversely affected the mining sector and mineral-based industries. The amendment seeks to streamline the regulatory framework to enable such activities under a standardized system.
The assembly also approved the Forest (Amendment) Bill 2026, which amends sections 27 and 34-A of the Forest Act, 1927. The changes empower the government to declare reserved or protected forests, or parts thereof, as no longer reserved or protected in cases involving projects of “national importance,” subject to prescribed terms and conditions.
The official statement notes that the mining sector has faced operational constraints due to existing forest laws, and the amendments aim to facilitate regulated mining and other development projects while maintaining oversight.
The passage of the bills, however, triggered concerns among environmental experts, who cautioned against potential ecological impacts.
Environmentalist and academic Shafiq Ahmad Kamboh, speaking to Voicepk, said that while economic development, employment generation and increased state revenue remain key priorities for governments, such progress should not come at the expense of nature and its inhabitants.
He stressed that all living beings — humans, animals and plants — have an equal right to exist, and warned that decisions taken at centres of power often disturb this balance. He cautioned that environmental degradation could adversely affect ecosystems and compromise resources for future generations, adding that sustainable development requires a balance between economic growth and environmental responsibility.
Environmental lawyer Ahmad Rafay Alam also raised legal and policy concerns over the amendments. He noted that in 2016, the then government had introduced changes restricting the de-notification of protected areas, and said the current legislation effectively reverses that position.
“The amendments may be inconsistent with Pakistan’s obligations under the Paris Agreement, to which Pakistan is a signatory,” he said, noting that the agreement calls for the expansion of protected and forest areas.
Alam also pointed to constitutional provisions, stating that the changes may conflict with Article 9A, which guarantees citizens the right to a clean and healthy environment, including access to clean air.
Opposition members in the Punjab Assembly opposed the bills and voted against them, expressing concern over their potential environmental implications. They argued that Punjab already faces severe environmental challenges, particularly during winter months when smog significantly affects air quality and public health.
According to the opposition, the amendments could exacerbate environmental degradation by easing restrictions on protected areas and forests, potentially leading to deforestation under the pretext of mineral extraction and development.
Despite the opposition’s resistance, both bills were passed by the assembly and will come into force upon receiving assent from the Governor of Punjab.