Historical Analysis of Balochistan Environmental Law: An Attempt to Revamp Climate Change Enactment after 18th Amendment

Environmental enactment mainly addresses the well-being of the ecosystem. Pakistan is more vulnerable to the worsening environment and climate change. In this regard, to address environmental concerns the first comprehensive environment protection ordinance was passed in 1983. This ordinance was intended to set up environmental conservation institutions. The Pakistan Environmental Protection Act, 1997, borrows its institutional framework from the PEPO, 1983. Similarly, the post-18th amendment era has the same framework, with some important revisions in order to adapt the provincial environment conservation policies. As a result, the four provinces enacted separate environmental laws to address their respective terrestrial and ecological issues. This study mainly focuses on the critical analysis of Balochistan Environmental Protection Act, 2012 as compared to Pakistan's Environment Protection Act, 1997 along with Climate Change Act, 2017 after 18th Amendment. This paper recounts the historical background of the environmental laws that served as the foundation for Pakistan's environmental legislation. This report also identifies several flaws in provincial environmental regulations as well as the 18th amendment's environmental and ecological provisions. Finally, this study envisages some pragmatic measures to improve the country's legislative and institutional structure to address the expanding environmental challenges.