How to Get General Environmental Approval (GEA) From KP EPA
Petrol pumps, poultry farms, brick kilns and BTS towers in KP need a General Environmental Approval. Fee Rs 50,000, review in 30 days. Here is how to apply.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, small projects such as petrol pumps, poultry sheds, dairy farms, flour mills, brick kilns and BTS towers need a General Environmental Approval (GEA) from KP EPA before the site is used. You file one paper and one electronic copy with a Rs 50,000 review fee. EPA must decide within 30 days of confirming the file is complete.
KP EPA's own homepage this week showed a sealing drive under way. Learning about the GEA from a sealing team is the expensive way. Rule 12 of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Environmental Assessment Rules, 2021 says no site can be used for a listed project until the approval under section 13 of the KP Environmental Protection Act, 2014 is in hand.
We read those Rules in the KP Government Gazette of 21 April 2022, the sector guidelines KP EPA published in 2025, and the public register of approvals on epakp.gov.pk on 3 October 2026.
Projects that need a GEA in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Schedule IV of the 2021 Rules lists the projects that need a GEA. They are smaller than the projects that need an IEE or a full EIA. If your project is on this list, you file a GEA. If it is bigger, you need an IEE or EIA instead.
| Sector | Projects that need a GEA |
|---|---|
| Energy | Hydro or coal power under 1 MW, other thermal power under 1 MW, solar plants from 500 kW to 1 MW, CNG, LPG and LNG stations, petrol pumps, oil and gas pipelines under 10 km |
| Agriculture and livestock | Poultry farms or control sheds of 1,500 to 15,000 sq ft, dairy farms with 40 or more buffaloes or cows, cattle farms with 100 or more goats or sheep, fertiliser grinding, repacking of farm products |
| Manufacturing | Flour, pulse, rice and guar gum mills, ice factories, mineral water units, biscuit, soap, cosmetic and glue units, block factories, tobacco kilns, recycling units |
| Mining and minerals | Stone crushing, marble, soapstone and gypsum units, lime kilns, brick kilns, coal grinding |
| Other | BTS towers, hospital incinerators, slaughter houses, vehicle service stations |
The list also has a catch-all. Under rule 5, EPA can direct any other project to file a GEA, IEE or EIA if it thinks the project may create a hazard, but only on the written advice of its Environmental Assessment Advisory Committee.
The GEA review fee is Rs 50,000
Schedule V of the Rules sets a non-refundable review fee of Rs 50,000 for a GEA. You pay it into EPA's specified account when you submit, and the original receipt goes with your file. An IEE costs Rs 250,000 and an EIA Rs 500,000.
| Approval type | Review fee | Review time after file is complete |
|---|---|---|
| General Environmental Approval (GEA) | Rs 50,000 | 30 days |
| Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) | Rs 250,000 | 45 days |
| Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) | Rs 500,000 | 90 days |
These are the fees as gazetted in April 2022. We found no later amendment on KP EPA's laws page, but ask the EPA office for the current account details before you pay.
How to apply for a GEA from KP EPA
The filing is paper-based. You fill in the sector checklist for your project type, attach the application form and fee receipt, and submit one hard copy and one electronic copy to EPA. EPA then checks completeness within ten working days and reviews within 30 days.
- Download the GEA guideline for your sector from the "Guidelines for GEA" page on epakp.gov.pk.
- Fill in its Environmental Assessment Checklist: project details, applicability, the site's surroundings, impacts and mitigation, and the signed undertaking.
- Attach a plot plan of the site showing key structures, access and utilities, as the checklist asks.
- Pay the Rs 50,000 review fee into EPA's account and keep the original receipt.
- Submit one hard copy and one electronic copy, with the Schedule VI application form and the receipt.
The checklist asks practical questions. For a brick kiln it asks the stack height, daily fuel use, source of clay, water needs, wastewater disposal, who owns the land, and whether any trees will be cut. It also asks who prepared the assessment and their qualification. KP EPA keeps a list of registered environmental consultants if you want help.
Before you start, have the basics ready. A business with its NTN number in hand, or a company already registered with SECP, will find the proponent details quick to fill in.
Where to submit and who decides
KP EPA issues approvals from its Peshawar head office and four regional directorates. On the public register we counted on 3 October 2026, GEAs had been issued by all five offices. Ask your nearest office which one handles your district.
| Office | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Head Office | 3rd Floor, SDU Building, Khyber Road, Peshawar Cantt | 091-9210263 |
| Central Directorate | 2nd Floor, KP Bar Council Building, Khyber Road, Peshawar Cantt | 091-9211560 |
| Northern Directorate | Ghosh Market, Supply Bazar, Abbottabad | 0992-9310472 |
| Malakand Directorate | Faiz Abad, Saidu Sharif, Swat | 0946-920098 |
| Southern Directorate | Arif Abad, Diyal Road, D.I. Khan | 0966-74017, as listed |
Offices are open Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm, and closed at weekends, according to the EPA contact page. The head office email is dgepakp@epakp.gov.pk.
Our count of the register found 2,039 approvals in total, of which 871 were marked GEA. Of those, 627 were BTS towers and just over 100 were petrol pumps or CNG, LPG and filling stations. We found no entry for a brick kiln anywhere on the register.
After approval: undertaking, compliance check and renewal
A GEA is not the last step. You sign an undertaking on stamp paper accepting EPA's conditions before construction, then get written confirmation of compliance before the unit starts operating. The operational approval must be renewed every three years.
- Undertaking: under rule 14, accept the conditions in the Schedule X form on stamp paper before construction.
- Validity: under rule 18, the approval is valid for two years for starting construction. If you start within two years, it extends for two more.
- Compliance confirmation: under rule 15, ask EPA to confirm you met the conditions before operating. EPA should answer within 30 days of a complete request.
- Renewal: apply to renew the operational approval every three years.
- Inspection: under rule 19, EPA staff may enter and inspect the site at any stage.
EPA can also ask for an IEE instead if your GEA file shows a bigger impact than expected, under rule 13(2). For brick kilns, the sector guideline adds firm design advice, including a chimney of at least 120 feet with a gravity settling chamber, so build that into the plan from day one.
Common questions
What is the fee for General Environmental Approval in KP?
Rs 50,000, non-refundable, under Schedule V of the KP Environmental Assessment Rules, 2021. It is paid when you submit the GEA.
How long does KP EPA take to issue a GEA?
EPA checks the file for completeness within 10 working days, then must review a GEA within 30 days of confirming it is complete.
Does a petrol pump need EPA approval in KP?
Yes. Petrol pumps and CNG, LPG and LNG filling stations are listed in Schedule IV and need a GEA. KP EPA has a separate guideline for them.
Does a poultry farm need a GEA in KP?
Yes, if the farm or control shed has a covered area of 1,500 to 15,000 sq ft. Dairy farms with 40 or more cows or buffaloes also need one.
How long is a GEA valid?
Two years for starting construction, extended by two more years once construction begins. The operational approval is renewed every three years.
Can I apply for a GEA online?
We found no online filing on KP EPA's site. The Rules require one hard copy and one electronic copy submitted to the Agency.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked on 3 October 2026. The list of GEA projects, the Rs 50,000, Rs 250,000 and Rs 500,000 review fees, the filing of one hard and one electronic copy, the 10 working day scrutiny, the 30, 45 and 90 day review periods, the undertaking, compliance confirmation, three-year renewal, validity and inspection rules are read in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Environmental Assessment Rules, 2021, notified on 2 September 2021 and printed in the KP Government Gazette Extraordinary of 21 April 2022, from KP EPA's laws page. The sector guidelines, including the brick kiln checklist and chimney advice, are read in the GEA guidelines approved by the KP Environmental Protection Council on 13 May 2025 and notified on 25 July 2025, from the Guidelines for GEA page, which lists the recycling units guideline as not yet approved. Office addresses, phone numbers and hours are read on the KP EPA contact page. The counts of 2,039 approvals, 871 GEAs and 627 BTS towers are our own count of the environmental approvals register on epakp.gov.pk on 3 October 2026.
About the author
Public Services and Education Journalist
Fajr Riaz is a journalist and content writer at Pakistan Era, based in Lahore. She covers the questions people meet in everyday life in Pakistan: how a public service works, what a change in the rules means, and where to find a reliable answer.
