PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government will launch a digital system next week to improve environmental assessments, monitor the impact of development projects and strengthen enforcement of environmental laws, officials said.
The Digitalisation of Environmental Approvals and Monitoring System (DEAMS) has been developed under the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to replace manual procedures with an integrated, automated and paperless process.
Secretary Environment, Climate Change, Forests and Wildlife Junaid Khan said the system would make environmental approvals more transparent and efficient while helping reduce delays and improve record-keeping.
A key feature of DEAMS is its geographic information system (GIS)-based mapping facility, which will help officials assess project locations and identify their proximity to protected areas, water reservoirs and ecologically sensitive sites. The facility is expected to support more detailed assessments of potential environmental impacts, particularly in areas rich in forests and biodiversity.
Under the new system, applicants will be able to submit applications online for Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), Initial Environmental Examinations (IEEs) and general environmental approvals. They will also be able to upload required documents and pay fees through an integrated payment gateway.
The system will include a mobile application for field inspections, compatible with Android and iOS devices. Environmental officers will be able to record inspections offline, using geo-tagged photographs and digital checklists. The records will automatically synchronise when internet connectivity becomes available.
The system will also introduce digital signatures and QR codes on approval certificates, allowing documents to be verified and helping prevent forgery. Director General EPA Tariq Khan said the digital system would strengthen the agency’s legal and administrative capacity and make enforcement of environmental standards more organised and verifiable.
DEAMS has been developed jointly by Green Environment Laboratory & Solutions and Geo Solutions. The initiative aims to modernise environmental governance in the province by improving the assessment of projects, strengthening field monitoring and making environmental approval records easier to verify. Its effectiveness will depend on how consistently the system is used to assess projects and enforce environmental requirements.
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