The World Bank has stressed to address urban environmental problems on priority basis. The challenge needs a strategic programme of capacity building capable to improve performance in environmental management at all governmental levels.
A World Bank study reveals capacity building and encouraging environmental performance at different governmental levels is key to develop incentive-based partnerships between the Federal and provincial EPAs, as well as between provincial authorities and local governments too. These would link the transfer of financial support with performance against indicators in agreed action plans, based on local priorities set within NEP goals.
Two pre-requisites steps for smooth functioning of the programme are: (i) the translation of the NEP's broad directions into specific targets, and (ii) the establishment of an efficient system of performance-based transfers, combining transparent decision-making with the minimum number of administrative hurdles.
World Bank urged the government that Pakistan Clean Air Program (PCAP) is being developed by the Ministry of Environment to support initiatives for urban air quality management, involving a variety of sectors, government departments and development partners.
The study suggests the PCAP might be supported as a stand-alone program for capacity building particularly at the provincial and local level, complementing broader incentive-based partnerships for the NEP implementation.
Commenting on natural resources management it mentioned, population ratio in rural areas as 60 percent that depend on natural resources (agricultural soils, water, rangelands and forests) that are strained and degrading.
Despite the economic significance of these assets there prevails a paucity of accurate information required to guide an effective policy interventions. Further, updating and refine assessments of major natural resources is necessary to enhance their productivity, growth and development.
Funding the new resources for environmental purposes in the Medium-Term Development Framework, might face financial constrain as compared to the work on already existing resources. This is vital in developing capacity within the environmental authorities at Federal, provincial and local levels besides mainstreaming the environmental management capacity in key sectors, and to upstream such activity in planning departments.
World bank also reports capacity building for more effective Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) should address four weaknesses, (i) a lack of expert input for technical reviews, (ii) a widespread unawareness of requirements and procedures, both in government and the private sector.
(iii) Lack of a system to identify public and private projects required submitting an EM, and (iv) weak enforcement of EIA clearance conditions. Technical assistance would assist the EPAs in many of these areas, and adoption of EIA training programs similar to that of NWFP would help broaden awareness of EIA requirements.
WB stressed to engage trained technical staffs for air quality monitoring, inspection and analysis of information. International experience indicates that it is often more cost effective to use the skills and resources of private or academic institutions than to build in-house capacity.
Where such opportunities exist in air quality management or other areas (for example, strengthening the EIA system), outsourcing should be considered as a way of expanding technical capacity.
Referring to the "Building Capacity to Protect Water Quality", the study mentioned that federal and provincial environmental authorities require substantial technical assistance for monitoring water quality and stakeholder consultation to establish standards of useable water, and their subsequent cleaning.
Physical investments are needed at local level to upgrade and expand water supply and sanitation services besides technical assistance to help the TMAs-private sector partnership. There should be routine monitoring to regulate drinking water quality assisted by provincial resources for regular oversight, and quality should be ensured at the national level based on technical combination of expert, equipment and training.
The WB survey also reveals that Environmental Cells have been created in a few key agencies. However, additional resources should supplement the EIAs added with effective implementation of associated Environmental Management Plans.
The establishment of environment sections in planning departments is significant, and their capacity should be enhanced with expert assistance so as to conduct environmental reviews and advises on environmental management plans.
The effective promotion of sustainable development in national planning should analyse the environmental constraints barring growth and poverty reduction and the MoE should be aided with additional resources to contract the necessary analytical expertise.