SGS Pakistan Completed the Environmental Impact Assessment for Kashmir Highway Project

July 16, 2023

SGS Pakistan has successfully completed the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study for “Construction of Kashmir Highway along River Jhelum” project.

The Kashmir Highway along River Jhelum project (approx. length 140-142 km) has been initiated by the Government of Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) through the Central Design Office (CDO). This project aims at providing direct link from G.T Road with Muzaffarabad and other major cities of AJK and is going to significantly reduce the travel distance between Mirpur and Muzaffarabad.

SGS has been invited to implement an Environmental assessment (EIA) study for this project. This assignment covered the following tasks:

Review of all applicable national and international laws.
Stakeholders’ consultation / pubic consultation for the scoping exercise, engaging key stakeholders and other potentially affected people.
Development of environmental and social baseline study of the area, including geology, ecology and social aspects.
Analysis of the alternatives for technology and waste disposal.
Assessment of the environmental and social impacts of the project development, construction and operation phases.
Development of the environmental management & monitoring plan (EMMP) for the construction and operation of the project.
Assistance to the CDO in submission of the EIA report to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

SGS Pakistan Completed the Environmental Impact Assessment for Kashmir Highway Project

On 22 June 2023, the SGS team presented the EIA outcomes in front of the AJK EPA team led by Director Mr Shafiq Abbasi and Deputy Director Mr Ali Saleem in the presence of the AJK CDO team, briefing them on the project’s major environmental impacts, mitigation, control measures and management and monitoring plan.

EIA is a systematic process to identify, predict and evaluate the environmental impacts of proposed actions, in order to ensure a project’s sustainability. Wherever appropriate, social, cultural and health effects are considered as an integral part of EIA.

Ammara Naqvi, Manager Environment, Health and Safety, Industries & Environment, SGS Pakistan

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