The Punjab Assembly Standing Committee on Forests and Wildlife has approved three controversial amendment bills that would allow mining activities in protected forests and wildlife habitats, sparking serious environmental concerns.
The committee, chaired by Chaudhry Akhtar Abbas Bosal, unanimously passed the Punjab Protected Areas Amendment Bill 2026, the Forests Amendment Bill 2026, and the Punjab Wildlife Protection and Management Amendment Bill 2026.
The proposed legislation aims to promote the mining sector by permitting mineral extraction in designated conservation zones. Officials stated that the existing legal framework has been hindering mining projects and economic development.
According to the draft amendments, the government seeks to revise key environmental laws, including the Forest Act 1927, the Punjab Protected Areas Act 2020, and the Punjab Wildlife Act 1974. The new framework would allow the use of forest land for projects classified as being of “national importance,” while also attempting to regulate and reduce illegal mining activities.
However, environmental experts have strongly criticized the move. The World Wide Fund for Nature Pakistan (WWF-Pakistan) Director General Hammad Naqi described the decision as a “total disaster,” warning that it could lead to irreversible damage to biodiversity and weaken conservation efforts.
Experts further argue that opening protected areas to mining could undermine legal safeguards, conflict with Pakistan’s climate commitments, and threaten fragile ecosystems across the province.
The bills will now be tabled in the provincial assembly for final approval before being sent to the governor for assent.
