Purpose:　The　discourse　on　the　governance　and　environment　nexus　has　been　an　important　research　agenda.　However,　the　debate　on　the　role　of　institutional　quality　(IQ)　in　environmental　degradation　is　continuous.　Unlike　others,　this　study　aims　to　examine　the　asymmetric　effect　of　IQ　on　the　ecological　footprint　(EF)　from　1984　to　2019　in　Pakistan.　Design/methodology/approach:　The　nonlinear　autoregressive　distributive　lag　model　is　used　to　empirically　investigate　the　linkage　of　IQ　and　EF.　Findings:　Reported　results　revealed　that　positive　shocks　are　negatively　affecting　EF　and　negative　shocks　are　positively　affecting　EF.　Findings　suggest　that　a　better　IQ　is　substantially　reducing　EF,　whereas　energy　consumption　and　economic　growth　are　increasing　EF.　Originality/value:　This　study　is　original　and　provided　important　information　about　the　performance　of　institutions　regarding　the　environmental　concerns　in　Pakistan.　Moreover,　this　study　has　robust　policy　implications.　©　2022,　Emerald　Publishing　Limited.