Environment Protection Agency (EPA) Rahim Yar Khan was established in 2006 and was placed under the administrative control of the EDO (W&S). It was headed by District Officer then. On January 2017, with the change in administrative set-up of Punjab and abolition of the office of District Coordination Officer (DCO), the office was placed under the administrative control of the Provincial Government. The primary function of the EPA is to ensure the protection of environment with this aim in view, it under takes a number of activities in the District, brief detail of which are as follows:
- The EPA is pursuing the major industrial units like Fertilizer, Beverages, Unilever Pakistan as well as Sugar Industry to install air pollution control devices and water treatment plants for the protection of environment. On the direction of EPA, FFC, Fatima Fertilizer, Coca Cola Beverages, Unilever Pakistan, JDW Sugar Mill unit 1 & 2 and Hamza Sugar Mill have been installed the air pollution control devices and water treatment plants, while under installation in RYK Sugar Mill and Eithad Sugar Mill.
- 346 brick kilns existed in the district working on old technology and cause of pollution / Smog. EPA introduced new zigzag technology which is environment friendly. As per Punjab Government policy, EPA initiate legal action with the coordination of District Administration against old technology brick kilns and registered 57 FIRs. 259 brick kilns have been converted on zigzag technology and remaining brick kilns are under conversion.