EPA not dissolved, being changed to an Authority: Ministry

The Ministry of Tourism and Environment have denied rumors that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is set to be dissolved.

Permanent Secretary Ajwad Musthafa of the Ministry of Tourism and Environment told Mihaaru News that the President's Office has not announced the dissolution of the EPA. He said that the President's Office sent the ministry a letter requesting to change EPA's current name to the "Environmental Regulatory Authority", citing "the reflection of primary responsibilities of the institution more accurately while enhancing its capacity to regulate the environment effectively."

This change was formalized through Presidential Directive No. 14/2025, a change being enacted in accordance with the powers vested in the President by Article 116(a) of the Constitution, according to the President's Office website.

Ajwad stated that other countries have an environmental agency if they don't have a dedicated ministry and that if a country does have an environmental ministry, it's usually run under the moniker of a regulatory authority.

"EPA was created as an institution that regulates the environmental health of the nation. The name is being changed to reflect their purpose. However, it is still the same EPA, it will not be dissolved," said Ajwad.

He went on to say that the EPA would not retain any of its responsibilities or powers.

However, as Ajwad stated, a Chief Administrator position will be introduced into the EPA as a managerial role of the Authority. It is a position created within the civil service structure. Therefore, the Civil Service Commission will be asked to make the necessary changes in the structure of the Authority.

Currently, the highest position at EPA is Director General, with the position being taken up Ibrahim Naeem.

Ajwad stated that an amendment to the Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIA) rules has been gazetted today.

"The amendment states that the current EIA processes will be unchanged, with the changes being the government being able to expedite the EIA stages of the development projects decided by the Cabinet or a Cabinet committee," Ajwad went on to say.

"All processes and stages of the EIA will forward [regardless of process expedition]. No process in any stage will be skipped nor looked over."

The amendment states that any EIA process that stems from government prioritization of a project must be completed with no delays. It also states that special consideration will be given to national development projects should the Cabinet or Cabinet committee deem it so.

The amendment goes on to say that this change is to be observed from the beginning of the amendment being gazetted, until the end of the current administration which is three years and 6 months.

The EPA, created on 18th December 2008, has since been run by a governing board with appointees from the President. The board currently has 7 sitting member.

However, with the changes to the EPA, it will be run directly under the ministry's purview.