DLP Report
PESHAWAR
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Environmental Protection Agency (EPA-KP) has initiated enforcement proceedings against several hospitals in Haripur over alleged violations of environmental laws, particularly rules governing the handling and disposal of hospital waste.
Through its Northern Directorate, the EPA-KP issued Notices of Hearing (NOHs) under Section 17 of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Environmental Protection Act, 2014, to the hospitals for alleged violations of Sections 11 and 13 of the Act.
Personal hearings were subsequently held at the office of the Director General, EPA-KP, where representatives of the hospitals appeared and presented their positions.
During the proceedings, the hospital representatives were directed to strictly comply with the Hospital Waste Management Rules, 2005, and ensure proper segregation, treatment and disposal of healthcare waste in accordance with the prescribed environmental standards.
Monitoring Inspectors from the EIA Cell, EPA-KP, also attended the proceedings as part of the agency’s continuing efforts to strengthen environmental compliance and monitoring in the healthcare sector.
The EPA-KP has warned that improper handling and disposal of hospital waste can pose serious risks to public health and the environment. It said such violations would not be overlooked and further enforcement action would be taken against facilities that failed to comply with the relevant environmental regulations.
