The executing body of the multi-billion EEW project, LDA, had prepared the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report in November 2015. However, LDA submitted the report to the EPD for its approval after the Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the elevated expressway project in February this year. After receiving the EIA report, EPD formed a special committee of experts which denied awarding the NOC, saying that the report was incomplete and made various observations of elements that were not present in the report. EPD experts while asking to update the EIA report, observed that the gist of the feasibility study which should be an essential part of any mega project was not included in the report. Talking to Pakistan Today, EPD spokesman Naseem-ur-Rehman said that EPD will not award any NOC unless it receives the desired information.

Source: Pakistan Today December 18, 2017 15:22 UTC