Construction of illegal structures is in full swing in Korang Nullah near Rawal Dam, in clear violation of legal orders by Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA).
After the protest from residents and civil society, the FEPA took strong notice of illegal construction activities in the Korang Nullah bed and Rawal Lake catchment area. The FEPA in particular sent legal order to a 5-storey building project, requiring environmental impact study prior to execute, which was being constructed in river bed near Shahpur, Mauza Phulgaran, Islamabad.
However, despite the legal order, the construction work hasn't stopped and work is in progress. The FEPA also issued 3 reminders and a follow-up notice to Chief Commissioner Islamabad Capital Territory vide letter (F.No.2(20)/2013-DD(EIA)/19-1) for compliance with the order to cease the activities in progress and ensure ‘Environmental Impact Assessment study’ under section 12 of PEPA Act 1997, the law of land.
But powerful builders are seemed to be unmoved by legal bindings. Civil society and the residents have expressed grave concern and anger over the continuation of construction activities by the influential groups despite legal order and repeated reminders by FEPA and actions from other relevant line departments.
Commenting on the situation, Kanwar Muhammad Javed Iqbal, Senior Researcher working with Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) said that “Girdawar of the area has confirmed that land of 5-story building is part of Korang River", and the construction clearly violates PEPA Act 1997 and CDA Zoning regulation, he added.
He declared that builders have also violated FEPA order for which they can be prosecuted under ‘contempt of court’ as it is a kind of judicial order for which the PEPA Act 1997 provides legal cover. He added that Pakistan Penal Code can also be invoked and the higher authorities are responsible to stop this illegal activity on immediate basis, and carry out Environmental Impact Assessment study in compliance with FEPA order under PEPA Act 1997, prior to continue with.
Kanwar Iqbal demanded strict legal actions against the project developers and suggested civil society to file a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in Supreme Court of Pakistan and launch campaign on the right of provision of safe drinking water in twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
It is important to note that these illegal construction put serious threats not only to sensitive ecological area of Korang Nullah but would spread waterborne diseases by polluting the Korang River, which is a source of potable water for millions of people in Rawalpindi and Islamabad.
© 2026 SDPI. All Rights Reserved Design & Developed by NKMIS WEB Unit
