ISLAMABAD: Plastic pollution is not only contributing to environmental issues like climate change and loss of biodiversity, but is also hindering sustainable development, says Abid Qayyum Sulehri, Executive Director, Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI).
He termed overproduction of plastic waste and its improper disposal as a serious threat to the environment in Pakistan, like elsewhere in the world.
Mr Sulehri says waste management is a major global issue that governments face daily and Pakistan is no exception.
Studies show that a total of nine billion tones of plastic was produced between 1950 and 2017, of which seven billion tonnes were discarded. Today, 11 million tonnes of plastic continue to pollute and poison the oceans.
“As a result of plastic pollution, we’re facing a triple planetary crisis: climate change, nature and biodiversity loss, and pollution and waste. It hinders the right to a healthy environment and slows sustainable development,” says Mr Sulehri.
“The world is grappling with the environmental consequences of plastic waste, and Pakistan is no different. We generate an estimated 20 million tons of waste each year, with plastic waste making a significant proportion of it,” he adds. “In 2020, Pakistan produced 3.9 million tons of plastic waste, of which 65pc was mismanaged. Around 18pc of municipal solid waste produced in Pakistan is plastic and only 3pc of the plastic used by the manufacturing industry is recycled material.”
According to the World Bank, only 27pc of Pakistan’s plastic waste is recycled, leaving the rest in landfills or open spaces, where it takes hundreds of years to decompose.
A WWF study from 2018 showed Pakistan was one of the top 10 countries in terms of plastic pollution, with an estimated 90pc of plastic waste being improperly disposed of here.
To tackle this problem, Pakistan needs to focus on building a circular economy where the waste is reduced, reused, and recycled. This requires a concerted effort by all the stakeholders, including the government, the private sector and civil society.
Reducing plastic consumption by promoting sustainable alternatives, such as reusable bags, containers, and packaging materials is the first step towards cutting pollution.
The government can play a crucial role in this regard by imposing a ban on single-use plastic bags and promoting eco-friendly products.
The Ministry of Climate Change has imposed a complete ban on the manufacture, import, sale, purchase, storage and use of polythene bags in the Islamabad Capital Territory.
In February 2022, Pakistan established the National Plastic Action Partnership to provide a platform of action for plastic waste management. This initiative will result in a circular economy framework to reduce plastic waste and pollution.
