Environmental Law in Pakistan - IUCN

4.4 Federal CapitalThe Islamabad Capital Territory, or federal capital, is designated by the Constitution as one of theterritories of Pakistan (Article 1(2)(b)); two general seats in the national assembly are allocated torepresentatives of the capital (Article 51(1A)). The national assembly has territorial jurisdiction tolegislate for the capital, while the executive branch of the federal government is the executiveauthority for this area.4.4.1 Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Ordinance 2002This ordinance restructures local government in the Islamabad Capital Territory to devolve politicalpower, and decentralise administrative and financial authority. The federal interior minister acts asthe chief executive of the federal capital (Section 2(vi)). Under the ordinance, “local government”includes the district government and the zila council in Islamabad City District, and the unionadministration and union council in each union. Administrative, financial and appellate powers of theofficers of the Islamabad Capital Territory Administration are decentralised to deputy district officers,district officers, executive district officers and district coordination officers as applicable, while theposts of chief commissioner, deputy commissioner and executive magistrate are abolished (Section153). Operational aspects of the application of the law continue to be defined.In addition to matters related to the devolution of local government, the ordinance also provides forlocal regulation of specified aspects dealing with forests, grazing land, freshwater, pollution, publictransport, taxation and extractive activities. Decentralised offices are established, with responsibilityfor matters including taxation, agriculture, soil conservation, water management, fisheries,industries, mineral development and transport (First Schedule).The zila council submits approved proposals for land use plans, environment control andmaintaining ecological balance, as well as water resource management and public transport(Section 32) to the Federal Capital Commission for consideration and final approval (Section108). The zila council and union councils are authorised to make by-laws that govern forests andplantations, agricultural development, pollution control, and extractive activities (Section 163,read with the Fifth Schedule, Part II). The local government may make rules governing forestry—with the exception of guzara (wasteland) forests, protected forests and watershedmanagement—development authorities and site development schemes, and taxation (FifthSchedule, Part I). Union administrations may regulate grazing and the use of public spaces(Section 42). Union, village and neighbourhood councils are responsible for the maintenance oflocal water supply sources and watercourses as well as for beautification, including plantingtrees (Sections 53 and 63).Penalties prescribed under the ordinance range from imprisonment for one month and/or a fine of5,000 rupees for polluting the physical environment, to three years imprisonment and/or a fine of15,000 rupees for polluting the water supply (Section 119 and the Fourth Schedule).04Governance27EnvironmentalLaw in PakistanFederal