Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency (Pak-EPA) on Thursday served strict notices to 66 public and private hospitals for flouting Pakistan Environmental Protection Act (PEPA), 1997 and Hospital Waste Management Rules, 2005.

The EPA issued notices clearly underscored that the hospitals were not adhering to Section 11 of PEPA, 1997 and Hospital Waste Management Rules while conducting their operational activities.

The EPA has called the Chief Executive Officers to appear before the Director General and explain their defence to halt any action to be taken against their facilities by the EPA.

Deputy Director Legal and Enforcement Aamir Abbas Khan upon the direction of DG EPA Farzana Altaf Shah had issued the notices.

It is imperative to mention that hospital waste management was of critical significance as its poor disposal leads to further misuse of hazardously contaminated disposal items into manufacturing of various plastic products of household use.